International Energy Forum Appoints Tom Ashby as Head of Global Communications
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – 4 February 2021: The International Energy Forum (IEF) today announced the appointment of Tom Ashby as Head of Global Communications and Director of the Communications Division.
The appointment is the latest in a series of steps taken by Secretary General Joseph McMonigle to invest in world class talent at the IEF, the world's largest energy organisation with more than 70 sovereign members.
"Tom is a leader in strategic communications and an energy expert. He comes to the forum with strong track record managing high performance teams in multinational enterprises and advising heads of state and governments, with a particular focus on emerging markets," Secretary General McMonigle said.
"High quality communications are absolutely critical to the forum as we engage with stakeholders around the world, promoting the security and stability of global energy markets and supporting the transition to a decarbonised economy," he added.
In his new role, Mr Ashby is responsible for the global reputation of the brand and forms part of the leadership team guiding strategy and flagship events. He is the IEF's chief media strategist and spokesperson. He manages relations with traditional media and works with divisional colleagues to deliver critical data and content that informs the global debate on energy futures.
Many of the forum's events have moved online since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mr Ashby assumes responsibility for the forum's omni-channel communications, including digital and social media.
Mr Ashby was previously Group Vice President, Corporate Communications at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company. He spent several years as a strategic communications advisor with clients including heads of state and sovereign wealth funds. He has acted as a founder and advisor at several start-ups in the areas of fintech, investor relations and public relations. He began his career as a journalist with Reuters, working his way up from an energy markets reporter in London to postings as a foreign correspondent in Latin America and chief correspondent in Nigeria. He moved to the Middle East as Business Editor of The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi.
Mr Ashby holds a bachelor's degree in French with African and Asian Studies at Sussex University in the UK and has completed a certificate in Big Data and Social Analytics from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served for six years as an executive board member of the Middle East Public Relations Association.
About the IEF
The IEF is the world's largest international organisation of energy ministers from 70 countries and includes both producing and consuming nations. Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it is the global home of energy dialogue to promote energy security, market stability and energy transitions.
Originally founded 30 years ago as a forum to facilitate dialogue between producing and consuming countries from OPEC and IEA, the IEF now has more member countries than those two organizations combined and from all regions of the world. Notably, the IEF has several large non-aligned members including China, Russia, India, South Africa and Argentina.
The forum's biennial ministerial meetings are the biggest global gatherings of energy ministers. The next IEF17 Ministerial will be held in the second half of 2021 in Saudi Arabia.
