About me
Engineer by training. Designer at heart.
I turn R&D and AI into business value in the petrochemical and energy-transition space. Today I lead Data Innovation at SABIC, where I designed the data and AI strategy for an R&D organization of 1,000+ scientists, established the data governance framework behind it, and run the platforms that power AI-assisted research.
Where I've lived, studied & worked
SpainStudied
ScotlandStudied
NetherlandsStudied & worked
United StatesWorking todayWho I've built teams with
+32Colleagues from more than 50 nationalities taught me that culture is what happens when nobody's watching.
Where I've been.
Leader, Data Innovation
SABIC · Greater Houston, TXOwn the data and AI strategy for an R&D organization of 1,000+ scientists. Designed and launched the R&D Data & AI roadmap, from a unified data platform to scientific GenAI and manufacturing digital twins, with initiatives forecast to add 30+ MM$/yr of EBITDA. Built the data governance foundations, run the HPC and cloud platforms behind AI-assisted research, and lead a team of 10 data and AI professionals.
Senior Manager, Process Fundamentals
SABIC · Sugar Land, TXLed a 15-person expert team in CFD, heat transfer, fluidization, mixing and process design across 40+ projects a year, generating 30 MM$/yr of EBITDA on critical manufacturing problems (doubled year over year). Technical leader for the first circular products made via advanced recycling in the MENA region, and seeded the Data Science Engineering competence.
Senior Manager, Reaction Engineering & Technology Development
SABIC · Sugar Land, TXLed 15 reactor engineers and scale-up experts from lab to scale-up, ran the Engineering Science labs with zero recorded incidents, and coordinated two annual portfolio reviews with the EVP of R&D. Featured as one of SABIC’s circular economy experts in internal and external forums.
Lead Scientist
SABIC · Sugar Land, TXLed SABIC’s technical efforts in the circular economy: built advanced recycling capabilities from scratch, created a joint R&D portfolio with Saudi Aramco (RA-NPV $200M), led technology scouting across 25+ companies and drove a 50,000 ton/yr circular products project up to Pre-FEED.
Senior Scientist
SABIC · Sugar Land, TXArchitected the company-wide Oil-to-Chemicals technology portfolio (RA-NPV $300M) and led its experimental programs from idea to proof of concept. Inventor on 15+ patents in crude-oil-to-chemicals conversion.
Senior Scientist
SABIC · Geleen, NLKey team member of a $20B Oil-to-Chemicals mega-project. Led licensor selection for six technology packages worth $300MM and owned the techno-economic model behind the decisions.
Bioprocess Designer
AVEBE · Veendam, NLScaled up potato protein production at the Solanic plant using process simulation.
Phase Equilibria Researcher
University of Alicante · ESResearch on liquid-liquid phase equilibria and excess Gibbs energy models: 4 articles in international journals and 2 posters at international chemical engineering congresses.
Education.
Design project: optimization of the protein adsorption process in the AVEBE/Solanic plant.
Thesis: design of a photocatalytic reactor to eliminate pesticides from wastewater.
Thesis: conformational adjustment and enzyme mechanism in HIV proteases.
Courses on Leading Innovation and Leading Innovative Teams.
What I do.
Strategy
Setting directions and paving the way
Turning megatrends into multi-year programs. Discerning signal from noise. Aligning priorities and capabilities.
Innovation
Turning ideas into workable programs
Generating ideas from all angles. Creating prototypes to minimize risk. Making progress under uncertainty.
Leadership
Leading teams across 50+ nationalities
Building teams from the ground up. Creating cultures for collective success. Coaching for growth.
Portfolio
From small wins to billion-dollar bets
Balancing risks and rewards. Choosing what (not) to do. Building scalable platforms.
How I work.
Read the full piece →What I believe.
Read the full piece →Integrity, honesty and hard work. For those who share them, my loyalty has no expiry date.
My parents by example, my wife and son by living alongside me, and years of meeting people unlike me.
That, beneath the stereotypes, they are fundamentally good, and that education with love keeps them that way.
With fair shared rules, protected human rights, and people taking agency for the common good.
Act on what I can, let go of the rest, and lean on grit. Discomfort is where learning happens.
A small circle of people, experiences over things, and the joy of giving.
Being remembered as a good person who helped others live better, after a varied life that made us all grow.