Guy Appleton is a dynamic strategic CFO and energy executive with over 25 years of global leadership experience across energy sectors. With deep expertise spanning upstream, midstream, and energy infrastructure sectors, he has successfully worked in businesses through transformational growth, complex M&A, strategic change and the energy transition. Guy has served as Managing Director, Finance Director & Growth Director, VP Commercial, Head of Business Development, Assistant Treasurer and Group Financial Controller, with both corporates (Kellas Midstream, Talisman/Sinopec, Talisman Energy and Paladin Resources) and advisory firms (HSBC Investment Bank and Ernst & Young), demonstrating a breadth of leadership across finance, commercial, strategy and operations.

Award Winning Leadership Across Energy and Finance

As Finance & Growth Director of Kellas Midstream, Guy was part of the five-person executive team that carved out BG/BP’s UK midstream business in 2015, building it into a highly successful enterprise. Over this period, EBITDA grew fivefold to over £230m, driven by strategic acquisitions, organic growth, and innovative infrastructure investment.

The ability to unlock value through creative commercial structures was recognised by the Oil & Gas Authority MERUK Award for an innovative investment concept that enabled the Tolmount gas development achieve FID.

Global Experience and Strategic Impact

Guy’s career spans both private equity-backed ventures and listed companies, operating in a number of countries in Europe, North Africa, North & South America and South East Asia, giving him an excellent understanding of the global energy landscape. At Talisman Energy, he held senior commercial and finance leadership roles in both the UK and Canada, including leading international finance teams of over 120 professionals across eight counties, responsible for new country entries and exits.

Joint Venture Management

At Talisman UK he was responsible for all commercial activities across 37 operated fields, 11 offshore installations and two onshore terminals.  Guy focuses on value creation through joint venture alignment and unlocking commercial / business projects.  His track record includes resolving high-stakes disputes, such as unlocking a decade-long commercial impasse between three joint venture parties, generating $217m in value.

He has also led negotiations on acquiring interests in LNG projects, including securing Talisman’s first-ever interest in a major LNG development in Indonesia.

Track record in fund raising

Guy combines financial acumen with strategic foresight, positioning businesses for long-term success in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. His fundraising expertise spans equity, debt (private and public) and project financing, with multiple landmark financings in London and Calgary. He has cultivated strong relationships with institutional and industrial investors, ensuring the successful financing of diverse projects.

Sayma Cox is a highly accomplished energy executive with a 27-year global track record of managing and optimising large-scale portfolios across multiple geographies and cultures. With deep expertise spanning upstream, midstream, and energy infrastructure, she has successfully led businesses through strategic transformation, operational restructuring, and value enhancement to unlock outstanding value. Served as CEO, SVP, Country Manager, VP, Chair, Board Member, Asset Director, Asset Manager.

As Chief Executive Officer of North Sea Midstream Partners (NSMP), Sayma led a >$1bn portfolio of critical midstream assets essential to the UK’s energy security. She also chaired NSMP’s Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Committee, reinforcing her commitment to operational excellence and industry-leading safety standards.

Proven Leadership Across the Energy Value Chain

Sayma’s career spans supermajors, national oil companies, private equity, and service companies, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the global energy landscape.

She has managed multi-billion-dollar global portfolios, delivering transformational value through production optimisation, cost reduction, and organisational restructuring. Her approach is to build lean, high-performance teams with a relentless focus on value creation.

Sayma is an exceptional joint venture partner, renowned for her ability to align stakeholders, extract maximum value, and drive operational efficiency across complex partnerships. With deep expertise in non-operated joint ventures (NOJVs) and large-scale asset collaborations, she has a proven track record of eliminating inefficiencies, reducing duplication, and resolving conflicts to ensure seamless execution. Sayma excels at identifying and unlocking aligned value, leveraging her strategic insight to optimise production, streamline costs, and enhance overall portfolio performance. Her approach is pragmatic and results-driven, fostering collaborative, high-trust environments where all parties are empowered to achieve shared success while maintaining financial discipline and operational integrity.

Private Equity and Industry Leadership

Sayma’s experience in private equity-backed energy investments gives her a unique perspective on value-driven asset management, strategic M&A, and capital deployment. She understands how to create agile, fit-for-purpose organisations that maximise asset value while maintaining operational integrity.

As a Board Member of Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), she played a key role in shaping industry policy, advocating for the sector’s future, and ensuring the responsible development of the UK’s offshore energy industry.

A Visionary Leader Shaping the Future of Energy

With an unparalleled breadth of experience spanning supermajors, NOCs, private equity, midstream, and service companies, Sayma Cox is a transformative leader in the global energy industry. She continues to drive operational excellence, strategic growth, and responsible energy development, ensuring businesses are positioned for long-term success in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Sayma also serves as a member of the newly formed PRAGMA Energy advocacy committee as well as a Independent Non Executive Director on the board of Energean plc.