I created Mike Roberts Consulting to leverage forty years of experience in the shipping industry to assist organisations seeking support across a variety of opportunities and challenges.

Having undertaken a degree in Nautical Studies (Shipping Business and Naval Architecture) at Plymouth University, I then commenced my professional career at Shell international in London, in a number of commercial roles within the shipping/trading divisions.

In 1993, I left Shell and went to work in Norway, then subsequently back in London for a family-owned tanker business.

1996 saw a move into the oil trading / refining side with commodity giant Louis Dreyfus who owned and operated a large European refinery. I assumed responsibility for dirty tanker chartering, oil operations, agency and inspection contract negotiation and development of emergency procedures, also undertaking a number of media management training modules.

Louis Dreyfus sold the business, so I returned to the owning side with increasingly senior positions within OSG and AET, covering all sizes of tanker across CPP, DPP, crude and easychems. Following this, I supported the rebuild of the project desk at a major shipbroker before switching to the spot desk, adding new clients and guiding start-up trading organisations with their entry into the market.

2014 saw me move to Switzerland to take on the challenge of building an increased client base and new trade routes for an affiliate of a state owned National Oil Company.

A start-up consultancy company I established in 2017 was subsequently put into suspended animation as I moved abroad again to assume the role of Vice President, Commercial (Tanker) for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Abu Dhabi. This business grew from eight to 28 vessels and generated hundreds of millions of USD profits in less than five years under my leadership.

Across all of these roles, I've prioritised the mentoring and development of many younger colleagues, many of which now hold senior positions within the maritime sector.

Since retiring from ADNOC in 2025, I have taken the opportunity to leverage the forty years of experience to help organisations benefit from the my extensive knowledge of the industry.