About

 was born in Prague, Czech Republic, where he obtained his  MSc at Prague Technical University in Structural and Civil Engineering  in 1975. He left the Czech Republic (at that time communist  Czechoslovakia) in 1981 for the UK where he completed his education by  obtaining an MBA from Edinburgh and Dundee Universities in Scotland  (sponsored by Shell) in 1990.

George  started his working career as a Civil Engineer working on site, for  local government and in designing office as a Structural Engineer. In  1983 he joined Shell Oil (UK later Shell International), first as an  Engineer, then as a Network Development Manager and then one of the team  responsible for market entry to Central and Eastern Europe. He  completed his work for Shell in 1997 in the Head Office in The Hague  where he worked on the Investment & Procurement Evaluation for Shell  Operating Companies in Europe (external consultancy A. T. Kearny). 

George’s  work for Shell gave him an invaluable insight into contract  negotiations, oil trade, trade negotiations, investment evaluation and  profitability in Shell Europe: decision-making (cost-benefit analysis),  driving factors (environment, legislation), investment (development and  running costs) and future income (volume and margins). 

In  1997 George joined Rohe in a Management Buy Out (buy in) as a  shareholder (25,5%) and a Managing Director in Vienna, Austria. A. Rohe  is a service company to oil Majors (Shell, BP, OMV, Aral) and other  petrol retailers. (at that time Rohe had a turnover of US $ 80 million).  Mr. Smid secured and managed service contracts for oil companies in  Central and Eastern Europe, with the highlight of a new market entry to  Azerbaijan and Georgia (with BP) and securing the European Contract for  BP and Shell maintenance.

In 2000 George set up his consultancy, advising client in oil and gas markets on 

• Purchasing Analysis and Strategy proposals
• Structured Finance for Joint Ventures and Acquisitions
• Project financing using Income stream financing, offset deals and swaps
• Real Estate Development and Financing
• Market Analysis and Project implementation (operational)

The key projects included:

Privatisation  of Gdansk (Poland) and Unipetrol Refinery (Czech Republic), Acquisition  of SKW Piesteritz (Ammonia & Fertiliser Plant - Germany),  Investment through offset and swap deals for Nakatchevan Power Station  (Azerbaijan), Alternative Energy (Wind Farm) Offset Deal for British  Aerospace,