About Us

From humble beginnings in a basement office under a dry cleaner in Belgravia, London, Oil Brokerage Ltd. has emerged as a global force in the oil brokerage industry. Founded in 1989 by three visionary brokers – Graham Cooper, Robert Smits, and John Gilbert, OB has a 30-year track record of providing a high-quality, trusted brokering service to the oil trading community.

In 2017, Oil Brokerage became part of the OTC Global Holdings portfolio, the world's largest independent interdealer broker of commodities. This strategic merger, along with the unwavering commitment to excellence, has strengthened Oil Brokerage's position in the global oil markets. This strategic milestone laid the foundations for a new phase of accelerated growth. In 2025, OTC Global Holdings joined the BGC Group platform, further strengthening Oil Brokerage’s position within a leading global energy, commodities and shipping brokerage ecosystem.

Under the leadership of James McNicol, Oil Brokerage has continued to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing fundamentals of the oil and gas industry, assuming leadership positions in Broker Physical Products and Derivatives, Physical Freight and Freight Derivatives, as well as Cross Barrel (Crude, Fuel Oil, Middle Distillate, Gasoline, Naphtha, LPG, etc.).

Today, OB’s worldwide reach includes representation in all major global trading hubs including physical presence in London, New York, Houston, Singapore, Dubai, and Geneva. Leveraging OTCGH's extensive network and expertise to expand operations into new territories, Oil Brokerage has consolidated its leadership in Europe, Asia, West Africa, the Arab Gulf, and North America.

Oil Brokerage is committed to remaining at the forefront of the oil brokerage industry, providing expert guidance and unparalleled service to its more than 900 clients across the globe.