The New Year auspiciously rolled out with international consulting and research firm Kline & Company announcing the promotion of Geeta Agashe, a highly respected authority within the lubricants, base oils, and petroleum specialties market, to Senior Vice President of Petroleum & Energy on Kline Management Consulting team. Effective January 1, 2013, this move recognizes Agashe’s long-standing expertise, deep understanding of the value chain from base oils to finished lubricants, and profound respect acquired through business relationships with influential industry participants during her management of Kline’s Energy Research Practice.

The addition of Agashe to the Kline Management Consulting executive team further underscores Kline’s unwavering commitment to serving the management consulting needs of its global Petroleum & Energy sector clients and complements the firm’s philosophy to utilize proprietary collaborative tools that accelerate workflow while ensuring minimal disruption to client’s business commitments.

“Geeta’s keen insights, dedication to our clients, and global perspective have been instrumental in the significant growth of our petroleum market research practice since she took its helm in 2005,” notes Joe Tarantola, Kline & Company’s CEO. “She has done an outstanding job in expanding the practice with new services that provide our lubricant and specialty petroleum clients with valuable market insight and opportunity assessments. Moreover, this year will see unprecedented reach and scope in terms of petroleum industry segment studies to be completed. This combined with the solid team Geeta leaves behind bodes well for the continued success of this vital research business.”

Tarantola continues, “Geeta was originally a part of our consulting business, and her moving back from Kline’s research is in the best interest of Kline and our clients. Geeta’s challenge is to further reinforce Kline’s position as leading consultants to this unique and indispensable space. I have every confidence in her ability and drive to do so as we advance into a new and promising 2013.”

A leading energy industry analyst and highly sought-after speaker, Agashe has delivered research papers worldwide. She is also a frequent contributor to and expert commentator for industry publications around the world. Agashe has been with Kline since 1996 and her expertise includes strategy/market development, technology and economic feasibility analysis, mergers and acquisitions and other analyses in the global basestocks, finished lubricants, lubricant and fuel additives, waxes and other related petroleum specialty markets. Geeta is already scheduled to deliver presentations at the 2nd Annual Base Oil and Lubes Middle East Conference (BLM 2013) and the Argus Americas Base Oils Summit, among others. (January 7, 2013)