Peter J. Close

Mr Close is a Chartered Engineer and graduated in chemical engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
Prior to co-founding KBC in 1979, he worked for Esso Engineering (Europe) Limited.
Mr Close established the US operation for KBC in 1983 and, as Director of Sales & Marketing from 1992 to 1995, was responsible for developing the Group’s Profit Improvement Program (PIP) for improving oil refinery operating margins.
He was Chief Executive through the period of flotation on the London Stock Exchange in 1997 and served on the Board until March 2000.
He remained involved in the business on a part time consultancy basis until rejoining KBC in September 2003 as Chief Executive.