Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Seth Thomas Pietras is an accomplished communications specialist who devises and implements communications strategies for global corporations in the oil and gas, commodities, and financial services sectors. Seth is currently the Corporate Affairs Director for Gunvor Group, one of the world's largest independent commodities trading houses by turnover. Seth was the first to market branded public diplomacy services to the private sector. He co-founded the country-branding powerhouse Qorvis Geopolitical Solutions in 2004 at Qorvis Communications (later acquired by the Publicis Groupe). He has a decade of experience working with oil and gas producers, such as Saudi Arabia, the Kurdistan Regional Government, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, as well as consulting for sovereign wealth funds and oil trading houses. He spent three years as chief speechwriter for HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal Ibn Saud. Seth has further experience working with industry trade organizations to establish effective communications platforms, and with creating environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs for global corporations. Seth was named one of PRWeek's “40 Under 40”, a survey by the editorial team of public relations industry’s premier trade publication that reviews agencies, corporations and nonprofits to profile 40 professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate innovative thinking, strong determination, and results that indicate a long and successful career in the PR industry.
Gunvor Group is one of the world’s largest independent commodities trading houses by turnover, creating logistics solutions that safely and efficiently move physical energy from where it is sourced and stored to where it is demanded most. As a member of Gunvor's management team, Pietras is responsible for the company's overall communications strategy—internal, external, and among shareholders and stakeholders—ensuring Gunvor's story is effectively told as the Group continues to grow and evolve. More information on Gunvor can be found at GunvorGroup.com or @Gunvor.
Foreign Reports is a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm that distributes original intelligence reports on political developments in the Middle East relevant to oil markets. Oil companies, governments, and financial institutions rely on Foreign Reports for its insight and analysis on key issues facing world energy markets generally and the Middle East specifically. With extensive experience and contacts in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Reports is able to report with confidence on a country very few have access to or a deep understanding of. Past reporting has addressed Saudi oil policies within the context of OPEC, succession scenarios, shifts in government portfolios, official views on oil pricing, and the development of the Kingdom’s Khurais and Khursaniyah fields.
Co-founded Qorvis Geopolitical Solutions (GPS), the international brand of Qorvis Communications in 2004 (acquired by Publicis Group in 2013). Qorvis GPS was a multi-million dollar initiative that specialized in the protection and management of reputations for countries, corporations and influential people worldwide. On all levels of projects—from organizing investment and education programs to setting up social media and online reputation campaigns—Qorvis GPS possessed extensive experience, know-how and unique capabilities, and was the established leader in public diplomacy worldwide. Qorvis GPS clients included: sovereign entities such as the People's Republic of China, the Government of Mexico, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Sri Lanka; organizations such as the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA); the Dubai International Finance Corporation (DIFC); United Kingdom Trade & Investment Authority (UKTI), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and corporations such as Alpha Natural Resources, Ezz Steel, Krull Corporation, Mayo Clinic, Trafigura, Vitol, and numerous others.
Managed strategic communications campaigns for global corporations and international clients, including the Republic of Fiji, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Pietras also oversaw Qorvis' marketing, lead capture management and strategy creation for new business development. He conceived of and led the team that designed and developed Qorvis’ award winning “Navigating Washington” mobile app for iPhone, Blackberry and Android—named “Phone App of the Week” by The New York Times, was endorsed by the city of Washington, DC as the best guide to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, and won a prestigious Webby Award for “Best Mobile App” from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences—beating 10,000 other entrants from more than 60 countries. In addition, Pietras was Qorvis' chief speechwriter and worked with numerous heads of state, members of royalty, Fortune 500 executives, celebrities, professional athletes and Nobel Laureates. As a strategic consultant to the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC), Pietras helped coalesce a multi-billion dollar group of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding manufacturers and retailers, including Quiksilver, Hurley, Sole Technologies, Element, Burton and others, to sign onto an environmental standard formulated by premier eco-consultancy MBDC. He also assisted ASEC's leadership, which included pro-skateboarder Bob Burnquist, testify before the United States Senate. As a result of his pro bono work for environmental non-profits, such as Access Fund, Outdoor Alliance, and the Sustainable Endowments Institute, Pietras has developed extensive experience advising organizations on developing environmental and corporate social responsibility programs. He has developed environmental statements for such major, publicly-listed corporations as Quiksilver, Inc., and has assisted athletes such as world-renowned alpinist Conrad Anker prepare for Congressional testimony.
Wrote and edited news stories relating to developments in the healthcare industry—specifically regarding venture capital financing and regulatory issues in the U.S. and Europe.