Early Life
Alexander Frank Beard was born in 1967 in Gravesend, Kent, England. He attended Gravesend Grammar School for Boys and later studied at Christ Church, Oxford University, graduating with a degree in Biochemistry. Before entering the business world, Beard spent five years as an oil trader at BP.
Rise to Success
Beard's career took off in 1995 when he joined Glencore, a multinational commodity trading and mining company. He quickly ascended the ranks, becoming the director in charge of Glencore's oil commodity department in 2007. He oversaw the company's crude oil and oil products marketing, shipping, exploration, production and other oil-related investments. In 2019, he retired as head of worldwide oil operations at Glencore. He was based in London and was the highest-ranking Glencore executive in the UK.
Key Business Strategies
During his tenure at Glencore, Beard was instrumental in the strategic expansion of the company's oil trading operations. He played a key role in establishing the RussNeft joint venture for production in Russia and made strategic investments in shipping, refining, and storage assets.
Philanthropy
Alex Beard is known for his commitment to philanthropy. He established The Watering Hole Foundation in 2012, a public charity focused on saving endangered wildlife and preserving their environments. He also served on the board of trustees for Shakespeare's Globe in London.
