Mr. Alexander Gudkov is the CEO of NP SPTR (Non-Commercial Partnership “Council of Commodity Markets”), a professional association of independent oil product trading companies. The mission of the Partnership is to create in Russia a civilized commodity market based on the principles of responsibility, respect, professionalism and equality of all its participants. Mr. Gudkov received his Ph.D. in Economic History in 2006 from Moscow State Lomonosov University.

As a contributor to the high-profile business newspaper “Kommersant” from 2006 to 2012, Mr. Gudkov published analytical materials on oil and the oil products market,  as well as antitrust and tax regulation. In 2013, Mr. Gudkov worked with Argus Media, a British price agency.

While in the U.S., Mr. Gudkov is planning to study the international experience of oil products and oil e-trade on NYMEX, as well as special features of spot gas trade on CME. He will also study state regulation of the energy sector, particularly antitrust regulation protecting minor independent market participants from malpractices of major oil corporations. He will work with Dr. Kenneth Medlock, Senior Director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.