Our Team

Chris Newman
Managing Partner, CIO
Over 14 years of experience and deep expertise in commodity finance, structured solutions, derivatives and physical trading. Previously at BNP Paribas and, most recently, founded a physical trading firm.
Prior to founding Audentia in 2018, Chris established a Singapore-based physical trading company that delivers oil products globally to major oil companies. He began his career at BNP Paribas’ commodity business where he was initially responsible for building derivative structures for oil producers, refineries, utilities and traders in order to help them manage and optimise price risks. He was later responsible for originating all new business within BNP Paribas’ trade finance franchise, creating an integrated strategy combining derivatives with the physical financing business globally. Chris then set up and led a team that pioneered technical derivative structures within physical pricing contracts which enabled BNP Paribas to offer effective risk management solutions to their clients.
Chris holds an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh.
Our Team

Chris Newman
Managing Partner, CIO
Over 14 years of experience and deep expertise in commodity finance, structured solutions, derivatives and physical trading. Previously at BNP Paribas and, most recently, founded a physical trading firm.
Prior to founding Audentia in 2018, Chris established a Singapore-based physical trading company that delivers oil products globally to major oil companies. He began his career at BNP Paribas’ commodity business where he was initially responsible for building derivative structures for oil producers, refineries, utilities and traders in order to help them manage and optimise price risks. He was later responsible for originating all new business within BNP Paribas’ trade finance franchise, creating an integrated strategy combining derivatives with the physical financing business globally. Chris then set up and led a team that pioneered technical derivative structures within physical pricing contracts which enabled BNP Paribas to offer effective risk management solutions to their clients.
Chris holds an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh.

Mikael Bonalumi
Head of Physical Risk Management
Over 30 years of experience in physical oil markets and derivatives, including running one of the biggest oil products businesses globally.
Mikael joined Audentia in 2018 from Litasco, the Geneva-based international marketing and trading company of Lukoil. As Director of Trading, he was responsible for developing and growing several oil businesses and overseeing all derivatives trading. Prior to joining Litasco, Mikael was General Manager of Total Oil Trading SA (TOTSA) where he was responsible for their global products business. Mikael began his oil career in 1987 with OK Petroleum after having served as an officer in the Royal Swedish Air Force.
Mikael graduated from KTH Royal Institute of Technology with an MoE in Aeronautical Engineering and holds an MBA from IHM Business School.

Mikael Bonalumi
Head of Physical Risk Management
Over 30 years of experience in physical oil markets and derivatives, including running one of the biggest oil products businesses globally.
Mikael joined Audentia in 2018 from Litasco, the Geneva-based international marketing and trading company of Lukoil. As Director of Trading, he was responsible for developing and growing several oil businesses and overseeing all derivatives trading. Prior to joining Litasco, Mikael was General Manager of Total Oil Trading SA (TOTSA) where he was responsible for their global products business. Mikael began his oil career in 1987 with OK Petroleum after having served as an officer in the Royal Swedish Air Force.
Mikael graduated from KTH Royal Institute of Technology with an MoE in Aeronautical Engineering and holds an MBA from IHM Business School.

Chris Slaboszewicz
Head of Trade Finance Risk Management
Over 35 years of commodity finance experience across leading financial institutions in this sector, including BNP Paribas, Bank of America, Banque Indosuez, and UOB/UEB.
As Head of BNP Paribas’ commodity finance platform, Chris oversaw more than 60 relationship managers and a loan book of $20bn. Building on a successful track record of identifying, supporting, and developing major relationships for the bank, Chris has served as an Advisory Board member to a number of commodity trading firms and played an instrumental role in the creation of two successful oil companies.

Chris Slaboszewicz
Head of Trade Finance Risk Management
Over 35 years of commodity finance experience across leading financial institutions in this sector, including BNP Paribas, Bank of America, Banque Indosuez, and UOB/UEB.
As Head of BNP Paribas’ commodity finance platform, Chris oversaw more than 60 relationship managers and a loan book of $20bn. Building on a successful track record of identifying, supporting, and developing major relationships for the bank, Chris has served as an Advisory Board member to a number of commodity trading firms and played an instrumental role in the creation of two successful oil companies.

Nick Makin
Chief of Staff
Over 12 years of experience in resource management across multiple investment sectors specialising in commodities, with an early career in professional sports.
Nick joined Audentia in 2018 from Armstrong International, where he was Executive Director and Head of Commodities. During this period, he developed a wide range of clients spanning hedge funds, commodity traders, family offices, and investment banks. His earlier career was in professional sports, where he played professional rugby for nearly a decade.
Nick holds a BA (Hons) from Durham University.

Nick Makin
Chief of Staff
Over 12 years of experience in resource management across multiple investment sectors specialising in commodities, with an early career in professional sports.
Nick joined Audentia in 2018 from Armstrong International, where he was Executive Director and Head of Commodities. During this period, he developed a wide range of clients spanning hedge funds, commodity traders, family offices, and investment banks. His earlier career was in professional sports, where he played professional rugby for nearly a decade.
Nick holds a BA (Hons) from Durham University.

Elliott Flynn
Chief Operating Officer, Head of Quantitative Analysis
Over 20 years of experience in asset management specialising in quantitative research, analytics, and risk analysis across multiple asset classes. Previously at Mako Europe and Armajaro Asset Management.
Elliott joined Audentia in 2018 from Mako Europe, where he was responsible for establishing and leading a systematic trading portfolio. Prior to Mako, Elliott was a Founding Partner of Merx Capital, where he managed a portfolio of systematic and fundamental strategies focusing on commodities. Previously, Elliott spent several years at Armajaro Asset Management, where he was responsible for overseeing the credit portfolio and providing quantitative analysis, and Gartmore as senior quantitative analyst and a member of the Quantitative Strategies team managing assets of $600m. Elliott began his career as a quantitative analyst for ING Barings and later moved to Citigroup Smith Barney.
Elliott holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Elliott Flynn
Chief Operating Officer, Head of Quantitative Analysis
Over 20 years of experience in asset management specialising in quantitative research, analytics, and risk analysis across multiple asset classes. Previously at Mako Europe and Armajaro Asset Management.
Elliott joined Audentia in 2018 from Mako Europe, where he was responsible for establishing and leading a systematic trading portfolio. Prior to Mako, Elliott was a Founding Partner of Merx Capital, where he managed a portfolio of systematic and fundamental strategies focusing on commodities. Previously, Elliott spent several years at Armajaro Asset Management, where he was responsible for overseeing the credit portfolio and providing quantitative analysis, and Gartmore as senior quantitative analyst and a member of the Quantitative Strategies team managing assets of $600m. Elliott began his career as a quantitative analyst for ING Barings and later moved to Citigroup Smith Barney.
Elliott holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Kat Grant
Executive Assistant to Managing Partner
Over 9 years of experience as an Executive Assistant and Marketing Co-ordinator within the media and creative industries.
Kat joined Audentia in 2018 having previously worked for Mood Media, a global media company, in their Marketing and Communications division, where she oversaw and coordinated large-scale workshops, events and exhibitions.
Kat holds a BA (Hons) in Art and Design Interdisciplinary from Leeds College of Art and Design.

Kat Grant
Executive Assistant to Managing Partner
Over 9 years of experience as an Executive Assistant and Marketing Co-ordinator within the media and creative industries.
Kat joined Audentia in 2018 having previously worked for Mood Media, a global media company, in their Marketing and Communications division, where she oversaw and coordinated large-scale workshops, events and exhibitions.
Kat holds a BA (Hons) in Art and Design Interdisciplinary from Leeds College of Art and Design.