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Board of Directors
Executive Management
Corporate Governance

In OCTO LNG we believe that a well-functioning Board of Directors built upon the principles of diversity in expertise relevant to the enterprise business and individual professional excellency plays a crucial role in contributing to the stability and sustainability of the entire enterprise and therefore catering for the interests of all stakeholders alike - trading venue customers and business partners, market regulators, investors and shareholders.

Following the guidelines and recommendations of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance, OCTO LNG's Board is designed to be comprised of primarily non-executive and independent Directors deliberating on core matters of global development directions, overall business planning, objectives and road maps to ensure fundamental harmonisation of the enterprise strategy, risks and finances.

The Board administers ultimate control over Executive Management performance by acting directly and through the Board's Committees established to assist the Board in the efficient performance of its responsibilities. Adhering to the principles of proper allocation of corporate management and control functions, only one member of the Executive Management - the Chief Executive Officer - is also an Executive Director in the Board, with the roles of the Executive Director/CEO and the Chairman of the Board strictly separated from each other to ensure better accountability and independence in the Board's decision-making.

For more details on the principles and rules of the OCTO LNG's Board of Directors formation and activities please visit tab Corporate Governance above. 

Max Siegrist
Chairman of the Board
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Max is a serial IT entrepreneur and a co-founder of OCTO LNG. As Chairman of the Board, Max brings to the table over 45 years of hands-on Swiss and international experience in establishing IT companies, leadership, strategic business development and project management (involving building and directing larger IT teams), R&D, hardware and software product development and marketing, network engineering and IT consulting. His career path encompassed Rheinmetall Air Defence, Cap Gemini, Siemens, Reichle & De-Massari AG (including turn-key projects completed for IAEA, Swiss Police, Military, and the Government), ultimately focusing on business development at onSpirix AG, a Swiss provider of IT Security & Infrastructure solutions and services, founded by Max in 2003. In addition to his commitment as Chairman of the Board at OCTO LNG, Max is currently focusing specifically on the areas of business analytics, innovation development of enterprise IT service solutions, cloud-integrated infrastructures & managed core applications, as well as mobile business solutions. Max holds Electronics Engineer degree from ITR, having previously graduated from Juventus.
Max Siegrist
Chairman of the Board
Max is a serial IT entrepreneur and a co-founder of OCTO LNG. As Chairman of the Board, Max brings to the table over 45 years of hands-on Swiss and international experience in establishing IT companies, leadership, strategic business development and project management (involving building and directing larger IT teams), R&D, hardware and software product development and marketing, network engineering and IT consulting. His career path encompassed Rheinmetall Air Defence, Cap Gemini, Siemens, Reichle & De-Massari AG (including turn-key projects completed for IAEA, Swiss Police, Military, and the Government), ultimately focusing on business development at onSpirix AG, a Swiss provider of IT Security & Infrastructure solutions and services, founded by Max in 2003. In addition to his commitment as Chairman of the Board at OCTO LNG, Max is currently focusing specifically on the areas of business analytics, innovation development of enterprise IT service solutions, cloud-integrated infrastructures & managed core applications, as well as mobile business solutions. Max holds Electronics Engineer degree from ITR, having previously graduated from Juventus.
Denis Korolev
Executive Director
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Denis is a co-founder of OCTO LNG and has been serving as the Executive Director and CEO of the company since its inception in 2018. Before launching OCTO LNG, Denis was responsible for building and leading the Gas and Power trading desk as a Director, Gas&Power at NOVATEK Gas&Power GmbH in Switzerland, with the mandate to first inaugurate NOVATEK Group’s trading operations in the European gas market and then build up its energy trading portfolio, including support with commercialization of the then-nascent Yamal LNG project. Prior to taking this challenge, Denis held several senior positions in corporate finance and business development with NOVATEK, the second largest Russian gas producer and the Russia’s national LNG champion. Prior to joining the fascinating world of energy supply and trading, Denis pursued a successful career in legal profession, having started at the Moscow office of Linklaters in 1995 and ultimately moving to become a Managing Partner in a privately held boutique law firm which he co-founded with the two other partners in 2002, taking also the role of the Head of Corporate and M&A practice. Denis holds Master of Laws from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and LL.M from Pericles Law Center (Pericles Center for International Legal Education, sponsored by the University of San Diego Law School's Institute on International and Comparative Law and partnering with the Widener University Delaware Law School).
Denis Korolev
Executive Director
Denis is a co-founder of OCTO LNG and has been serving as the Executive Director and CEO of the company since its inception in 2018. Before launching OCTO LNG, Denis was responsible for building and leading the Gas and Power trading desk as a Director, Gas&Power at NOVATEK Gas&Power GmbH in Switzerland, with the mandate to first inaugurate NOVATEK Group’s trading operations in the European gas market and then build up its energy trading portfolio, including support with commercialization of the then-nascent Yamal LNG project. Prior to taking this challenge, Denis held several senior positions in corporate finance and business development with NOVATEK, the second largest Russian gas producer and the Russia’s national LNG champion. Prior to joining the fascinating world of energy supply and trading, Denis pursued a successful career in legal profession, having started at the Moscow office of Linklaters in 1995 and ultimately moving to become a Managing Partner in a privately held boutique law firm which he co-founded with the two other partners in 2002, taking also the role of the Head of Corporate and M&A practice. Denis holds Master of Laws from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and LL.M from Pericles Law Center (Pericles Center for International Legal Education, sponsored by the University of San Diego Law School's Institute on International and Comparative Law and partnering with the Widener University Delaware Law School).
Morgan von Escher
Independent Director
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A seasoned expert and executive in Commodity Trade Finance (CTF), having started his CTF journey with ING Bank in Geneva (and later New York), and after over 9 years of working in CTF on the banking side switching over a large Swiss-based energy trading house as Head of Trade Finance & Credit to manage >$1.5bn credit facilities through 10+ banks, structured finance/ project finance, credit risk and insurance, eventually switching back to the banking side of the business by joining Credit Suisse in Zurich as Director and Expert Key Account Manager, Commodity Trade Finance.
Morgan von Escher
Independent Director
A seasoned expert and executive in Commodity Trade Finance (CTF), having started his CTF journey with ING Bank in Geneva (and later New York), and after over 9 years of working in CTF on the banking side switching over a large Swiss-based energy trading house as Head of Trade Finance & Credit to manage >$1.5bn credit facilities through 10+ banks, structured finance/ project finance, credit risk and insurance, eventually switching back to the banking side of the business by joining Credit Suisse in Zurich as Director and Expert Key Account Manager, Commodity Trade Finance.
Board Committees
Committee: Nominating & Corporate Governance
Description:
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee is primarily responsible for ensuring that the Board is comprised of Directors meeting qualification criteria with respect to their independence and individual competence as shall be adequate and sufficient to ensure that the Board efficiently plays its strategic leadership role in driving development of OCTO LNG's business as a profitable venture on sustainable basis. In addition, the Committee generally oversees OCTO LNG's general policies and practices in the area of corporate governance and advises the Board on their continuous improvement.
Committee: Finance
Description:
Finance Committee is charged with prime responsibility of overseeing OCTO LNG's financial strategies, policies and capital structure, reviewing the relevant parameters of OCTO LNG's business plan and making appropriate recommendations to the Board. Besides, the Committee is involved in the development and review of OCTO LNG's Compensation Policy setting the framework for competitive and adequate remuneration of Directors, Executive Management, officers and employees of the enterprise, and oversees development and administration of personnel incentive plans and profit distributions policy.
Committee: Audit & Risk
Description:
Audit & Risk Committee's focus is primarily on ensuring timely, adequate and transparent assessment of the enterprise performance through review of OCTO LNG’s management accounts, quarterly and annual financial statements and audit reports prior to submitting the same for approval of the Board, and overseeing Executive Management performance in setting up enterprise risk management framework and compliance with internal control systems, as well as accounting policies and practices. The Committee also supervises the work of OCTO LNG's internal and external auditors, and evaluates adequacy and efficiency of the enterprise practices and processes engaged to identify, manage and mitigate its strategic, financial, operational, regulatory and compliance risks.

To procure for best combination of strategic leadership, overall supervision and accountability with operational flexibility and quick response to business needs OCTO LNG implements the principle of proper allocation and separation of corporate management and control functions in line with the guidelines and recommendations of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance. 

For this purpose executive management responsibilities with respect to conduct of any day-to-day business and affairs of the enterprise (including pursuing of the OCTO LNG’s objectives and realization of financial and business projections incorporated in the business plan, but excluding non-transferrable functions and responsibilities vested by Swiss law and the Shareholders' Agreement with the general meeting of shareholders and/or the Board of Directors) are assigned and delegated to the Managing Director. The Managing Director leads OCTO LNG’s Executive Management in the capacity of the Chief Executive Office/President of the enterprise.


Denis Korolev
CEO/President
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Denis has been serving as the CEO/President of the company since its inception in 2018. Before taking this role, Denis was responsible for building and leading the Gas and Power trading desk as a Director, Gas&Power at NOVATEK Gas&Power GmbH in Switzerland, with the mandate to first inaugurate NOVATEK Group’s trading operations in the European gas market and then build up its energy trading portfolio, including support with commercialization of the then-nascent Yamal LNG project. Prior to taking this challenge, Denis held several senior positions in corporate finance and business development with NOVATEK, the second largest Russian gas producer and the Russia’s national LNG champion. Prior to joining the fascinating world of energy supply and trading, Denis pursued a successful career in legal profession, having started in the Moscow office of Linklaters in 1995 and ultimately moving to become a Managing Partner in a privately held boutique law firm which he co-founded with the two other partners in 2002, taking also the role of the Head of Corporate and M&A practice. Denis holds Master of Laws from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and LL.M from Pericles Law Center (Pericles Center for International Legal Education, sponsored by the University of San Diego Law School's Institute on International and Comparative Law and partnering with the Widener University Delaware Law School).
Denis Korolev
CEO/President
Denis has been serving as the CEO/President of the company since its inception in 2018. Before taking this role, Denis was responsible for building and leading the Gas and Power trading desk as a Director, Gas&Power at NOVATEK Gas&Power GmbH in Switzerland, with the mandate to first inaugurate NOVATEK Group’s trading operations in the European gas market and then build up its energy trading portfolio, including support with commercialization of the then-nascent Yamal LNG project. Prior to taking this challenge, Denis held several senior positions in corporate finance and business development with NOVATEK, the second largest Russian gas producer and the Russia’s national LNG champion. Prior to joining the fascinating world of energy supply and trading, Denis pursued a successful career in legal profession, having started in the Moscow office of Linklaters in 1995 and ultimately moving to become a Managing Partner in a privately held boutique law firm which he co-founded with the two other partners in 2002, taking also the role of the Head of Corporate and M&A practice. Denis holds Master of Laws from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and LL.M from Pericles Law Center (Pericles Center for International Legal Education, sponsored by the University of San Diego Law School's Institute on International and Comparative Law and partnering with the Widener University Delaware Law School).
Eugen Protsenko
CIO
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Eugen is a co-founder of OCTO LNG and acts as the company’s CIO, drawing on over 20 years’ experience as an IT engineer with the track record of involvement in IT R&D, network engineering and network security projects, and IT product development. He is a network security specialist certified by market leading vendors of IT security solutions and platforms. In the last 10 years Eugen has specifically focused on Energy Trading Risk Management (ETRM) systems and associated business applications for commodity trading companies based in Switzerland and Singapore. Eugen holds Master in Radionics and IT Technology from the State University of Telecommunications in Ukraine.
Eugen Protsenko
CIO
Eugen is a co-founder of OCTO LNG and acts as the company’s CIO, drawing on over 20 years’ experience as an IT engineer with the track record of involvement in IT R&D, network engineering and network security projects, and IT product development. He is a network security specialist certified by market leading vendors of IT security solutions and platforms. In the last 10 years Eugen has specifically focused on Energy Trading Risk Management (ETRM) systems and associated business applications for commodity trading companies based in Switzerland and Singapore. Eugen holds Master in Radionics and IT Technology from the State University of Telecommunications in Ukraine.
János Orosz
CTO
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János is a seasoned IT architect, software developer and IT team leader and administrator contributing to OCTO LNG over 20 years of experience in enterprise software development with, in particular, Luxoft (a DXC Technology Company) and EPAM Systems. Through his professional career, János has gained first-hand expertise in ideating, planning, managing and developing software products for financial, industrial, e-commerce and air transportation domains. János holds BA in Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance from the National Aviation University in Ukraine.
János Orosz
CTO
János is a seasoned IT architect, software developer and IT team leader and administrator contributing to OCTO LNG over 20 years of experience in enterprise software development with, in particular, Luxoft (a DXC Technology Company) and EPAM Systems. Through his professional career, János has gained first-hand expertise in ideating, planning, managing and developing software products for financial, industrial, e-commerce and air transportation domains. János holds BA in Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance from the National Aviation University in Ukraine.

OCTO LNG absorbs guidelines and recommendations summarized by the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance and adheres to a set for corporate governance principles that form a business framework ensuring maximization of long-term value while maintaining proper balance of interests for all stakeholders. 

The two-tier structure of business management adopted by OCTO LNG ensures delivery on a sustainable basis of efficient energy market infrastructure service, maintaining responsive decision-making capability, implementation of reliable risk management, enhancing corporate accountability and transparency, as well as full compliance with regulatory standards and requirements.

corporate governance framework
Board of Directors: Principles and Rules
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