Meet the team
Reputation, integrity and independence
Shaping the Future of Critical Minerals and Energy
For over two decades, SFA (Oxford) has been at the forefront of providing in-depth insights and strategic guidance in the realm of critical minerals and the energy transition. Our journey has seen us successfully undertake complex assignments for a diverse range of stakeholders, including producers, fabricators, end-users, recyclers, and investors, while developing the most comprehensive, independent supply and demand databases in the sector. As we delve into this new era, our focus has intensified on critical minerals essential for the energy transition, underscoring our commitment to supporting sustainable and innovative solutions across the entire value chain.
Executive leadership
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Dr Ralph Grimble
Operations Director
Pioneering the energy transition with tailored strategies and trusted advisory
Our work is characterised by a confidential and tailored approach designed to augment each client’s specific strategic decision-making needs. This approach has enabled us to add significant value to a portfolio of companies that extends from mine to market, solidifying our position as renowned and trusted advisors throughout the industry. Our unique network of loyal, long-standing clients is a testament to our expertise and dedication.
The individual and collective expertise of our team is our greatest asset, allowing us to diversify our research and consultancy services beyond the scope of most other commodity consultancies. We act as a ‘think-tank’ for many in the industry, with a renewed focus on generating investment ideas and capitalising on strategic opportunities within the critical minerals sector. Our team's comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding the energy transition positions us uniquely to offer insights that not only navigate the present market landscape but also shape the future of energy resources, spearheading policy and commercial leadership.
Our special advisors
Jeremy Coombes
Independent Consultant
The engine room
Dr Ralph Grimble
Operations Director
Dr Jenny Watts
Head of Clean Energy & Sustainability
Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant
Kimberly Berman
Energy Transition Technology and Metals Specialist
Thomas Chandler
Principal Lithium Supply Analyst
Oksan Atilan
Consulting Automotive Analyst
Alex Biddle
Senior Mining Analyst
Lakshya Gupta
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies
Dr Fahad Aljahdali
General Manager, KSA
Dr Sandeep Kaler
Market Strategy Analyst
Adele Rouleau
ESG and Critical Minerals Lead
Daniel Croft
Commodity Analyst
Rj Coetzee
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies
Our analysts and consultants have expert skills and are in high demand. Many of the projects undertaken require the diverse skill sets many of the analysts have built up over time and through completing numerous projects and reports for clients along the value chain. The team is confident we can support your next project request offering the highest standard of consulting and bespoke research, working hard to provide accurate answers to complicated questions.
We strive to meet all individual client needs, helping each company to achieve its full potential.
Our commitment spans the battery raw materials, PGM industry and hydrogen market, aiming to drive the energy transition's success. By offering tailored expertise, we support advancements in these critical sectors, positioning our clients at the energy transition forefront. Our assignments are manifold; our goal is to provide tailored, value-adding expertise on demand.
Specialist network
Our unique network of clients and associates is the catalyst for SFA to become the analytical link in the strategic metal value chain. This network extends across the world, encompassing all of the major producing and consuming regions, each one examined, understood and broken down, their intricacies and complexities articulated simply and coherently. We rely upon a specialist network of expert engineers and consultants, who are based worldwide, spanning China, South Africa, North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, to assist us on bespoke projects.
For many years we have also been trusted advisors to the commodity industry’s major metal producers, with relationships built upon our analysts’ delivery of granular, ground-breaking analysis providing a greater comprehension of tomorrow.
Our associate consultants are highly experienced professionals with specialist regulatory qualifications, such as registered Competent Persons, to support the due diligence of asset sales and valuations and corporate listings. We have processing engineers for metallurgical flowsheet optimisation and re-engineering. Our other associates include chemists, professors, mathematicians, traders, investment professionals, market experts and technical witnesses.
Marketing and finance
David Mobbs
Head of Marketing
Joel Lacey
Sales and Marketing Specialist
Yoshi Mizoguchi Owen
Marketing Associate: Japan
Jo Holmes
Finance Manager
Alison Clapton
Executive Assistant
We have a dynamic marketing and finance team supporting the leadership team to ensure the smooth running of SFA's day-to-day operations, managing our client relationships and contracts, organising upcoming events, stakeholder engagements, financial planning and reporting.
The Board
James H. Sutcliffe
Independent Chairman
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Dr Ralph Grimble
Operations Director
Laurent Charbonnier
Non-Executive Director
Our highly experienced Board meets quarterly to assure SFA's clients that the company stays independent from Sibanye-Stillwater and ensure the SFA team continues to provide high-quality work for clients. SFA's independent Chairman and Non-Executive Director Jim Sutcliffe prevents the team from being unduly influenced by the arms-length operating agreement SFA has with Sibanye-Stillwater since the 100% acquisition of SFA (Oxford) in 2019.
The Board supports new market growth opportunities and oversees the management of the SFA share scheme and performance-based remuneration set up for employees after SFA's acquisition.
How can we help you?
SFA (Oxford) provides bespoke, independent intelligence on the strategic metal markets, specifically tailored to your needs. To find out more about what we can offer you, please contact us.