Alex Beard

Alexander Frank Beard (born 3 August 1967) is a British billionaire businessman, based in London. He is chairman and founding shareholder of Adaptogen Capital, a London-based infrastructure firm. Established in 2020, the firm is focused on building a portfolio of storage batteries across the UK that will provide stability to the grid and storage capacity.

Beard was formerly CEO of Glencore's worldwide oil operations, one of the world's largest commodity trading and mining companies. In June 2019, it was announced he would retire after 24 years with the company.

Early life Beard attended Gravesend Grammar School for Boys between 1980 and 1985. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford University in 1985 and graduated with an MA in Biochemistry in 1989.

Career Beard joined BP as a graduate and worked there as an oil trader from 1990–94. He joined Glencore in 1995 as a trader in Russia and FSU and took over responsibility for all trading in those areas. In 2007, he was appointed as CEO of Glencore's worldwide oil department.

According to Forbes, he is worth $2.3 billion.

Personal life Beard is married, has three children and lives in London. He was also a donor to the Royal Marsden Oak Cancer Centre. He joined the board of trustees for Shakespeare's Globe in London in 2017, becoming Deputy Chairman in 2019 before stepping down in 2022.