Some folks are not happy with being super at only one thing. John Surtees, for example, is the only man to win world championships in both F1 and Grand Prix motorcycling.
Cyclist and speed skater Clara Hughes, couldn’t decide whether she liked Winter or Summer Olympics better, so she won medals at both.
If you, too, are someone who wants to use your skills in a new sector, Oil & Gas could be for you.
This is an industry that welcomes fresh talent in many disciplines that vary from IT to Engineering and Finance to Manufacturing.
Jon Fitzpatrick found his own way to the top of the Oil & Gas sector by way of the law.
He’s Executive Director at Gneiss Energy, which he founded earlier this year to advise and assist companies across the energy and natural resources sectors in making strategic, technical and commercial decisions.
Let’s find out more.
How did you get where you are today?
From an early age – without a great deal of understanding of what it might entail, beyond wearing a wig and uttering a respectful “M’lud” – I held a passionate desire to pursue a career at the bar.
I did graduate with a Law degree and gained an LLM for my dissertation on the decommissioning of oil and gas installations in the North Sea.
I was offered a post within the corporate finance division of Dundas and Wilson. I had great encouragement from senior colleagues and was given the opportunity to pursue and develop my interest in the energy corporate finance sector.
After senior positions with Brewin Dolphin, Cenkos Securities, and Macquarie Capital, I decided to strike out on my own.
How would you describe your day?
I can be writing a report, meeting with clients, assisting in negotiating transaction structures and terms with counterparties, preparing transactional documentation, attending a meeting of a professional body or addressing a conference.
Is there anything about the work that’s surprised you?
I continue to be surprised at how many new things I learn every day.
The learning comes from a diverse source: clients, colleagues, technical consultants, lawyers and accountants.
Have you moved around?
For the past 20 years I’ve lived in Glasgow. But London is the epicentre of the financial world and for most of my career my desk has been in the City – I spend at least half of my time there.
The energy sector, of course, is global and I’ve travelled extensively to North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow your path?
I come from a long line of strategists. I operate on the basis of 9/10ths thought, 1/10ths action. Sticking to this discipline has served me extremely well.
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