Ben Couzens - Oil & Gas

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Ben is currently employed as Global Head of ERP in Puma Energy Trafigura where he has led the integration and business process realignment of downstream and midstream oil companies immediately following acquisition in Africa, Asia, America, Australia, Europe and Eastern Europe.  His business process, engineering and ERP knowledge spans downstream oil, midstream oil and upstream oil.  He has project managed the construction of power stations and has provided strategic consultancy in nuclear power.

Click on the links in this table for versions of Ben Couzens' CV highlighting specific experiences and skills
General CV Project Management CV Consultancy CV Business Development CV
IT/IS CV IT Project Management CV  SAP ERP CV Senior/Board level work CV
Software Development CV Oil and Gas CV Energy CV Renewable Energy CV
Banking and Finance CV Telecom CV Engineering CV Manufacturing CV
Relocation Microsoft Word.doc CV LinkedIn CV iProfile CV

International work experience building teams and businesses includes

Career overview

Puma Energy (Trafigura) Global Head of ERP Mid & Downstream Oil.  Strategic Change Management.   NAV ERP 2012 – current
sparesFinder  Global Head of Channels (upstream oil)  MDM.  ERP & Software.  Upstream Oil 2011 – 2012
Knowledge Reservoir Professional Services (upstream oil) Consultancy.  Simulation.  Upstream Oil 2008 – 2010
Independent Consultant  Consultancy Paris Nuclear, Global Tobacco etc IT Strategy.  Nuclear Power 2004 – 2008
Misys International Banking Global Product Services Director Banking.   Software.   Professional Services 2003 – 2004
Deloitte & Touche Partner in Charge SAP Central Europe Consultancy.   ERP.   SAP   Telecom, Automotive, Manufacturing, Beverage, Oil 1996 – 2003
Coopers & Lybrand SAP ERP Consultancy Service Leader Consultancy.   ERP.   SAP   Telecom, Utilities Electric, Gas, Financial, Retail 1995 – 1996
PE International Consulting Project Director Consultancy.   Bespoke Software 1993 – 1995
Warwick University MBA Master of Business Administration MBA Master of Business Administration 1992 – 1993
MiTek (Bowater) European Development Director Bespoke Software.   Manufacturing.   Engineering 1986 – 1992
Datech (Skanska) Technology Director  Consultancy.   Wide Range Engineering Software + CAD 1985 – 1986
M H Anderson  Head of IT & Software Development Consultancy.   Bespoke Engineering and Business Software 1982 – 1985
Harris & Sutherland Consultants Senior Design Engineer (also seconded 1978-1979) Consultancy.   Engineering 1981 – 1982
John Laing Engineering Project Engineer UK and Poland (power stations) Engineering.   Petrochemicals.  Power Stations 1975 – 1981
Cambridge University MA General Engineering MA General Engineering 1972 - 1975

2012 February to now           Puma-Energy (Trafigura)  Global Head of ERP

Puma-Energy, a Trafigura subsidiary, is a midstream and downstream oil company that has expanded by acquisition into 40 countries in 5 continents mainly since 2010. Midstream activities include storage, marine systems, supply and refining.  Downstream channels include bunkering, retail service station fuel and shop sales, wholesale, business to business and aviation.  Products include lubricants, fuel oil, diesel, petrol (gasoline), bitumen and LPG.  To support these rapid acquisitions Puma is implementing Navision Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP throughout their global midstream and downstream business.        

Employed by Trafigura as Global Head of ERP for Puma-Energy Ben has led the integration and business process realignment of downstream and midstream oil companies immediately following acquisition.   This includes Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and 3 downstream oil companies in Australia.

Reporting to the CIO, Ben is directing the delivery of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5 ERP in 30 countries including Angola, Australia, Belize, Caribbean, Congo, Corpus Christi, DRC, Dubai, El Salvador, Estonia, Geneva, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, US Virgin Islands and Vietnam. 

Ben has personally directed post acquisition business process change and NAV ERP delivery in country in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Estonia, Tanzania, Angola, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia and Papua New Guinea.  Ben’s responsibilities have included directing Accenture, Logico, Tectura and KCP and their subcontractors, and local planning and budgeting.  Ben recruits, trains and directs local teams, both contract and permanent.

Ben has directed the analysis, design, Agile development and deployment of NAV customization in Australia since 2012 including the development of new NAV modules for Retail, Fuel Card and POS integration.  Since the acquisition 2014-07-01 Ben has been directing the merger of InterOil in Papua New Guinea and managing the business change of InterOil to global integration with Puma.

Key Achievements 

2010 to 2012      sparesFinder     Global Head of Channels

sparesFinder provide consultancy and SAP/ERP integrated software for MDM data cleaning.   Clients include: Coca Cola, Glaxo Smith Kline, Heinz, ICI, Lafarge, Nestle, PepsiCo, Ryvita, Rolls Royce, RS, Staples, Tate & Lyle, Unilever, British American Tobacco, Gallaher, Philip Morris, BHPP, Newmont, AGIP, Apache, BG, BP, Britannia, Centrica, Chevron, Conoco, Exxon, Halliburton, Kerr McGee, KOC, Marathon, Marafiq, Natpet, SABIC, Sahara, Shell, Talisman, Tasnee, TMK Ipsco, Wilson.

2008 to 2010   Knowledge Reservoir Oil and Gas Consultancy Services and Business Development Europe, Africa, Middle East

2004 to now   Independent Consultant

2003 to 2004    Misys International Banking Financial Services Software T/o £1bn
                        Global Product Services Director

Selected to direct 300+ IT Consultants worldwide developing and supporting financial software and to introduce and implement wide ranging change

1996 to 2003    Deloitte & Touche    Global Auditing and Consulting T/o $12bn
                        Partner in charge SAP ERP IT in 17 countries

Selected to develop ERP IT Consultancy in Czech Republic

1995-1996    Coopers & Lybrand  Global Auditing and Consulting T/o $8bn           
       SAP Consultancy Service Leader

Invited to establish SAP Consultancy in Czech Republic

1995            SAP R/3 Academy, SAP Berlin Germany 

Residential training in the SAP R/3 Academy in SAP Berlin Germany.  SAP certified by examinations as SAP Financial Consultant.

1993-1995    PE International        Consulting T/o $300m        
       Project Director - IT/IS

1992 – 1993    Warwick University.  MBA Master of Business Administration

1986 – 1992    Bowater          Global Manufacturing T/o $3bn    
         European Development Director CTO/CIO MiTek Inc T/o $150m

Approached to turnaround the company

1985 – 1986    Skanska          Engineering Company T/o $17bn 
         Technology Director CTO/CIO DATECH

Approached to create new IT software company

1982 – 1985    M H Anderson Consultants             $500m Technical Consultancy
          Head of IT & Software Development

1981 – 1982    Harris & Sutherland Consultants   $70m Engineering Consultancy
          Senior Engineer        (also seconded ‘78–‘79) 

1975 – 1981    John Laing ($1bn Engineering Company)     
          Project Engineer (UK and Poland

1975                 British Antarctic Survey      

1974                 Geoscience Consulting       

Qualifications 

1971-1975        MA Engineering
Cambridge University 

1992-1993        MBA Master of Business Administration
Warwick University 

1980                 Chartered European Engineer.  Chartered Civil Engineer    
Special Commendation for Excellence from Institution of Civil Engineers 

1996                 Certified Financial Consultant
SAP Academy Berlin 

2006                PRINCE2 Certified Advanced Project Manager 

2007                Non-Executive Director      
Cranfield University (Residential Training)

 Languages    

French - business, Polish, Romanian, Czech - useful

Personal

British.  Married, 3 children.  Willing to relocate.         

Currently location provides easy travel to Heathrow, London, Reading, Bracknell and Guildford by train and motorway.

References from LinkedIn

“Ben is the best boss I ever had.”  Attila Feher, Senior ABAP developer, reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“Ben is a bright, energetic, client focused, "can do" professional. He recruited then mentored and grew a body of professionals into a seasoned team of professionals, who shared his vision and unwavering passion to quality and client service. I had the pleasure of having him as my colleague and seeing, "up close", his single-minded focus on client service and quality.”  Azam Sher. managed Ben indirectly at Deloitte & Touche

 “Ben was responsible for our implementation of SAP - the most comprehensive in CEE - including a total BPR. He is a great guy to work with and very professional. Due to his skills we managed to succeed. My best recommendations!”  Dennis Thaagaard was Ben's client

 “Ben stood out as an exceptionally visionary and energetic leader, rapidly growing his SAP consulting practice into the largest and most profitable service line in our region. At the same time Ben demonstrated tremendous "people skills", generating enthusiasm wherever he went and gaining the support and respect of clients, colleagues and staff alike.”  Steve Knabe worked directly with Ben at Deloitte & Touche

"I was impressed by Ben's capability to build successful consulting business from zero to multi million business.  He had vision and made it into a reality.” Egils Simanovskis, SAP Senior Consultant reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“Some people understand technology, fewer understand technology and have the skills to deliver, rare are the individuals who combine the two with a deep understanding of business issues. Ben utilises this valuable combination of skills to great effect. Together we developed a business plan for SAP services, Ben made sure he delivered...”  Mats Beem managed Ben at Coopers & Lybrand

"Ben Couzens is a brilliant man. He has the ability to grasp incredibly complex systems-related issues, and to connect powerfully with human beings in meaningful ways -- a person who is a rare combination of technically gifted and interpersonally skilled.” Lenann McGookey Gardner, President, Lenann McGookey Gardner Management Consulting, Inc.

“Ben was my boss for almost 6 years at Deloitte&Touche. Ben was a exceptionally great manager and excellent leader. He inspired us all to do our best and earned our respect almost immediately with his depth of knowledge, experience and patience. Always able to motivate people and lead them to success.” Frantisek Honsa, Manager for SAP, Deloitte & Touche reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I worked under Ben at Deloitte in Prague and found him an excellent manager with an enviable understanding of the Central and Eastern European business environment.” Dan Taylor, Senior Management Consultant, Deloitte Central Europe, Prague, Deloitte & Touche reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I was impressed by Ben's capability to build successful consulting business from zero to multi million business. He had vision and made it into a reality.” Egils Simanovskis, SAP Senior Consultant, Deloitte reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

“I fully subscribe to my Deloitte former colleagues comments on the Internet, with Mr. Couzens I had the best and happiest time in my entire professional life. We regretted very much his departure from DTCE because without him good projects became scarce.” Cristina Chiriac, SAP Senior Consultant, Deloitte reported to Ben at Deloitte & Touche

Click here for View Ben Couzens's profile on LinkedIn

Interests

I enjoy my family, socialising, sailing, cycling, rambling, opera, travelling and experiencing new national cultures. I am a violinist in Reading Symphony Orchestra, I am the Cambridge University and Daily Telegraph expat mentor for Prague