Alex Beard (businessman)

Beard joined BP as a graduate and worked there as an oil trader from 1990–94. He joined Glencore in 1995 as a trader in Russia and FSU and took over responsibility for all trading in those areas. In 2007, he was appointed as CEO of Glencore's worldwide oil department.^[3]

During his tenure Glencore substantially increased their global business to trade over 5Mb per day of crude and products. Beard also created the RussNeft joint venture for production in Russia as well as invested in shipping, refining and storage assets.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2019, it was announced Beard would step down as the head of Glencore's oil division.^[3]

Beard was charged in 2024 with two conspiracies to make corrupt payments to government officials and officials of state-owned oil companies in Nigeria between 2010 and 2014 and in Cameroon between 2007 and 2014, by the U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office.^[5]

According to Forbes, he is worth $2.3 billion.^[1]

His new investment fund, Adaptogen Capital is focused on building a portfolio of at least 800MW of strategic storage batteries across the UK to provide stability for the UK grid as the  supply of renewable energy increases. Other ventures include being a Sponsor of Energy Transition Partners (ENTP), a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, created with the purpose of acquiring a business operating in the energy transition sector.^[6][7]

Beard is married, has three children and lives in London.^[1]

He endowed a £6m fund at Christ Church which funds income support for undergraduates as part of the Oxford University Bursary Scheme and was made an honorary student of Christ Church in 2012.^[4][8][9] He was also a donor to the Royal Marsden Oak Cancer Centre. He joined the board of trustees for Shakespeare's Globe in London in 2017, becoming Deputy Chairman in 2019 before stepping down in 2022.^[10]