Based in Istanbul, Simon comes to us after serving for the past eight years as managing editor of The Oil & Gas Year. In that capacity, he led the production department and developed content for yearly reports and online coverage of 34 oil and gas markets. So he is familiar with the upstream portion of the oil industry.

He has also worked as a freelance writer and copy editor for Oxford Business Group, covering financial and political news in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. A versatile personality, Simon produces and hosts a weekly radio program on Istanbuls Acik Radyo. He was a bass player in a musical group, and wrote music for libraries and films.

Having Simon on board clears the way for me to retire at the end of this year, at which time he will assume the role of managing editor. I have greatly enjoyed my time at LubesnGreases, the past four years as managing editor of this publication. I have had the opportunity to travel to many exotic places that I never would have seen otherwise. But most of all, I will remember the people I have met and the friends I have made from all over the world.

This isnt goodbye. I intend to stay involved, writing the occasional article and handling special assignments. But its time to pass on the daily grind of managing the magazine.

Weve assembled an interesting group of articles for you this month. Boris Kamchev reviews the prospects for base oil exports from CIS countries. Kiara Candelaria reports on the challenge facing formulators of industrial lubricants as the bright stock supply dwindles. Dilipp Nag covers the impact of Indias move to the Bharat VI emissions standard. And Mark Townsend describes the increased use of API Group II base stocks in trunk piston engine oils.

As always, you can depend on LubesnGreases EMEA to keep you abreast of the latest developments
affecting your business in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

– Richard Beercheck
Dick@LubesnGreases.com