SIEW 2017: 3Qs with Paul Simons, Deputy Executive Director, IEA

Paul Simons took up his duties as IEA Deputy Executive Director on 8 July 2015. He supports the Executive Director in providing leadership and strategic direction to the Agency, including advancing the global engagement strategy by strengthening co-operation with non-member countries and pursuing initiatives with key partner countries. He also holds overall responsibility for co-ordinating internal operations, such as the budget and Programme of Work, and oversees the IEA Energy Data Centre.

Mr. Simons brings extensive expertise in energy and economic policy to the IEA through his prior experience as a senior US career diplomat. He also was appointed Executive Secretary of the Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), co-ordinating drug policy and criminal justice reform initiatives for the 34 members of the Organization of American States. Before that he served as US Ambassador to Chile and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy and Sanctions, during which he was a delegate to the IEA Governing Board and chaired the IEA Standing Group on Long-Term Co-operation. He also held management, economic and consular positions at the US Embassies in Israel, Ecuador and Colombia.

Before joining the US State Department, Mr. Simons worked in international corporate lending at a New York-based commercial bank. He has a BA from Yale University and an MBA in Finance from New York University.

Paul Simons, Deputy Executive Director of IEA, discusses the important role of energy efficiency in meeting Asia Pacific’s rising energy demand, and the ways in which IEA is advancing this in the region: