Everything about Frank Monstrey

Frank Monstrey is a thriving investor from Belgium. He is experienced in the creation and start-up of companies. “Once a company has reached a going-concern status, I get less involved. My skills remain with the concept itself and the development of a business or project.”

Start of career

After completing his business administration studies in Leuven, Frank Monstrey participated in an excellence program where fifteen promising young adults were selected through a tough selection process. The program provided the selected group the opportunity to gain work experience within a Belgian company abroad. Frank Monstrey: “I was selected and given the chance to work for the General Bank in Shanghai. After one year, I moved back to Belgium and was able to continue with my education.

Next, I left for Turkey and became responsible for the office in Istanbul. I gained most experience within the field of infrastructure and project financing for both the Turkish government and Turkish businesses.” It was this period of time in which Monstrey gained most of his experience and contacts. After expanding his knowledge and set of contacts, Monstrey decided that, towards the end of 1992, it was time to leave the bank. He then commenced to develop several projects on his own. “I started with some projects in Turkey; however, as the Soviet Union fell apart, those countries suddenly began to actively exchange goods with Turkey.

Eventually, I developed various projects in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and of course, Turkey itself. This generally consisted of commercial real estate projects, such as hotels and office buildings, but also more industrial projects.” His main expertise is to find funding for projects, but he also started projects using his own financial resources. His Belgian business required an office in Istanbul and eventually another one in Turkmenistan. After living in Istanbul for ten years, Frank Monstrey moved back to Belgium in the end, yet he continued to run his business from Belgium and commuted between Istanbul and Brussels three to four times a month.

Taking over an oil and gas company

Due to his activities in Russia and Kazakhstan, Frank Monstrey created exposure and a network in the oil business. “As there were huge investments and developments within the oil business, I looked at several projects, because I know there will always be a need for investment capital.

In spring 2004, I came across a small oil and gas company, of which the owner was no longer able to finance it properly. I then suggested taking over the company. My offer was accepted, and we created a fund to raise capital from banks and the capital market. The project started as many of my other projects, but in the end turned out to be the most important project I was working on.”

Slowly but surely, Frank Monstrey finished up his other business-related activities in order to dedicate all his time to Nostrum Oil, his oil and gas business. “As soon as the company counted 1000 members of staff, we brought it to the London stock market. We required extra capital, and London was the most suitable place to get it. Nowadays, approximately 43.000 barrels of oil are produced each day.” In 2017, Frank Monstrey sold his shares in Nostrum Oil & Gas.

Current Project

After selling his shares in Nostrum Oil & Gas, Frank Monstrey takes some time out from investing. Yet in 2018, he decides he is not a man to simply watch and wants to get moving again: “I am only 54 years old and I still want to be busy. I started a new company and also took over the first company in the sector of renewable energy.

With Tenerga, Frank Monstrey specialises in shallow geothermal energy and other sustainable energy solutions. “We focus on heating and cooling down of many buildings, such as offices, hotels, hospitals and apartment blocks,” says Frank Monstrey.

Furthermore, Frank Monstrey is the initiator and chairman of the golf club The National, which is near Brussels. He primarily regards it as a hobby: “The club is a family business, I want it to do well. We want to attract a younger audience, and that’s why we have developed a present-day main club that includes a modern golf space. The new generation of golf players is very different from the previous one. Today, one year after the opening, the club counts 900 members.”

Frank Monstrey is also the chairman of the board of Urbion, which is the family’s real estate company. “I have been active in real estate since the age of 20. I’m not the head of the company, yet I am involved; it’s more of a non-executive position.”