James Chiu

Partner, Energy

ames is a Partner, where he leads Ara Energy’s strategic initiatives to acquire, operate, optimize, and economically decarbonize conventional energy assets. He is currently focused on the firm’s delivery and distribution businesses, while also playing a critical role in investments involving thermal power generation and biofuels production. 

James has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Ara, he served as Vice President of Strategy and Execution at Pilot Company, where he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and helped found and grow Pilot’s energy business in Houston through several strategic acquisitions in fuel distribution logistics.  

Before his time at Pilot, James held senior positions at Castleton Commodities and Mercuria Energy Group. During this time, he served as a Director for an international storage joint venture, managed several biofuel production plants in Europe and worked on the acquisition and integration of global commodities platforms from J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley.

James holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, majoring in Finance with a minor in Chemistry. A former track and field athlete as well as wrestler, James maintains a commitment to a health-conscious lifestyle through running, hiking and time outdoors.