Strong Source

In this episode, we welcome Rob Gosman, an expert energy trader with decades of experience across some of the most dynamic commodity markets. Rob shares his journey from trading agricultural commodities at Cargill to navigating the complexities of energy trading at BP. He offers insights into building high-performing trading teams, the evolution of technology and data in commodities, and the stark differences between energy and agri markets.Rob also reflects on his career's defining moments, including adapting to market shocks like negative crude prices during COVID and leveraging risk management strategies across volatile markets. This conversation dives deep into the psychological and strategic aspects of trading, making it a must-listen for seasoned professionals and newcomers alike.

In this episode, we welcome Ed Turner, an experienced commodity trader with over a decade in the energy markets. Ed discusses his journey from trading base metals at Mitsubishi UFJ to leading Mandara’s trading desk. Now a Senior Trader at Gunvor and an entrepreneur with Shogun Sakes Ltd., he shares insights on navigating oil trading dynamics, the transition from large firms to smaller, high-intensity environments, and the importance of risk management. Ed also explores the psychological aspects of trading and his shift from market-making to a more strategic, balanced approach.

In this episode of the StrongSource Commodity Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Kristine Hochbaum, a seasoned commodity trader with an impressive 19-year career at Cargill. Kristine has held several key leadership roles, including her most recent position as Global Trading & Risk Management Director for the oils and fats business. During her time at Cargill, Kristine significantly expanded the trading discipline across global markets, promoted inclusive leadership, and even increased female representation in her trading teams from 22% to 38%. Throughout her career, Kristine has been known for her dynamic leadership, keen risk management strategies, and ability to balance both people management and high-stakes commodity trading.

With over 25 years at Unilever, Willem Uijen brings a wealth of experience, having worked across the globe in various supply chain roles before transitioning to procurement. As our first Chief Procurement Officer guest on the show, Willem offers unique insights into the challenges and strategies of managing commodities on a global scale, touching on topics like sustainability, supply security, and managing volatility in today's markets. Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of the top leaders in the FMCG industry.

In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Javier Blas, a distinguished energy and commodities columnist at Bloomberg and the co-author of the acclaimed book The World for Sale. Javier takes us through his fascinating and unexpected journey into the world of commodity journalism, beginning with his early interest in the Middle East and leading to his extensive coverage of the oil market. Over the years, Javier has become a prominent voice in the field of commodities. During our conversation, he delves into the inspiration behind writing The World for Sale, a book that aims to shed light on the crucial yet often shadowy world of commodity trading—a sector that plays a pivotal role in the global economy.

Join us in this episode of the StrongSource commodity podcast as we welcome Marc Perathoner, Director of Commodity Risk Management at FrieslandCampina. Marc shares his fascinating career journey from Goldman Sachs to the Chicago Board of Trade, where he gained extensive experience in commodity trading and price risk management. The discussion explores his expertise in financial instruments and market dynamics, as well as his success in creating and implementing commodity price risk management units within multinational companies. Don't miss his insights on managing risk in the dairy industry and how his investment banking background has shaped his approach.

This week, we welcome Edwin van Stipdonk, the Chief Commercial Officer of Interfood Group, one of the world's leading dairy trading companies. In this episode, Edwin shares his journey from a junior trader to a key business leader in a family-owned company. He provides an in-depth look at the functioning of the dairy market, exploring its complexities and opportunities.

For the first time, commodity market wizard, hedge fund manager and legendary cocoa trader Tom Kopczynski, speaks about his trading career at Blenheim, once the biggest commodities hedge fund in the world. In this episode, Tom covers the influence of macroeconomic factors on commodity trading, the rise of algorithmic trading, the future of the cocoa industry, and many more...

We are thrilled to announce that this Strong Source episode features Chris Mahoney, former CEO of Glencore Agriculture. Chris shares his incredible journey from rowing in the Moscow Olympics to leading Glencore Ag, delving into his strategic insights on commodity trading and the importance of cultivating a strong team. In this episode, you'll hear about: chris's unique entry into the world of commodities, his experiences working with industry legends like Andy Hall, the strategic evolution of Glencore Ag under his leadership, the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

We're excited to feature Willem Zimmerman, VP of Global Cocoa Trading and Sourcing at Barry Callebaut Group, on this episode of the Strong Source Podcast. With extensive experience at Cargill and Barry Callebaut, Willem offers deep insights into the cocoa industry's challenges and guidance for its future.

In this episode, we are joined by Jan Dieleman, an industry leader and a great example for aspiring commodity traders. Jan is the President of Cargill Ocean Transportation, based in Geneva, and has managed roles in the U.S. and Europe during his more than 20 years with Cargill. Across the maritime sector, Jan is a respected advocate for sustainable shipping, actively supporting reduced emissions, better vessel environmental performance, safer working conditions, and a more diverse workforce.

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Stephane Bernhard to the podcast! With an impressive resume spanning over years of experience in commodities trading. Stephane began his illustrious career as a trader at Louis Dreyfus Company, where he spent 13 years mastering the intricacies of the industry. His leadership journey continued as he ascended to the role of Managing Director for Spain and Portugal. Later, he assumed the position of Managing Director at Invivo Trading before landing his current role as the Global Head of Trading at ETG Commodities. Stephane's deep knowledge of macroeconomics shines through in this podcast episode as he delves into the complexities of the global trading landscape.

On this episode we sit down with Ben Tacken. Ben kicked off his career at Cargill, where he honed his skills over a decade before venturing into trading various commodities at Vattenfall. For the past 10 years, he has served as the Corporate Director of Purchase and Trading at DE Heus Animal Nutrition, showcasing his expertise in strategic procurement and trading operations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a true industry expert.

On this episode we sit down with Boudewijn van Vliet. Boudewijn's has a fascinating journey in the world of commodities, starting from his early days at Cargill in Amsterdam and Geneva. After six years, he made a significant move to Citi, where he became Head of Freight Trading. Today, Boudewijn serves as a board member and non-executive director of two companies in Geneva, while also leading the charge as the founder of Advanced Plastic Purification International NV (APPI). APPI is revolutionizing plastic waste management with its large-scale sorting and recycling facility, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

In our fourth episode we are joined by Daan Vriens. Daan Vriens, a seasoned professional with a blend of Brabant and Rotterdam roots, embarked on a dynamic career journey that reflects his resilience and adaptability. Beginning at Cargill in Rotterdam, where he delved deep into the refining of tropical oils Daan swiftly rose through the ranks, exploring international opportunities in Singapore and then back to Rotterdam. After 16 years at Cargill, Daan made a bold leap, becoming CEO at Cefetra over a decade ago, a testament to his strategic vision and leadership prowess.

In our third episode we are joined by David Behrends. David has an extensive career in the trading world. His career in coffee began at Dreyfus, followed by a significant 12-year tenure at Noble Group (later Coffco). Eight and a half years ago, he made a pivotal move to Geneva, joining Sucafina, where he currently is Managing Partner and Head of Trading. In addition to his extensive career in the commodities industry, David is also the founder of a startup called Farmer Connect. This venture reflects his commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to create meaningful connections within the agricultural supply chain. We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hope you will too. References: Jonathan Kingsman: The New Merchants of Grain: Out of the Shadows Jonathan Kingsman , Wouter Jacobs: Commodity Crops: And The Merchants Who Trade Them Alan G. Futerman , Ivo A. Sarjanovic: Commodities as an Asset Class: Essays on Inflation, the Paradox of Gold and the Impact of Crypto The World For Sale - Book by Jack Farchy and Javier Blas Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed our World - Book by Mark Pendergrast

In our second episode we are joined by Ivo Sarjanovic. Ivo has had a successful career as a trader at Cargill where he ended up as head of the Sugar business unit. He now spends his time advising companies as non-executive board member. Furthermore he is an agricultural commodities professor, author and VC ag tech investor! We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hope you will too. References: Jonathan Kingsman: The New Merchants of Grain: Out of the Shadows Jonathan Kingsman , Wouter Jacobs: Commodity Crops: And The Merchants Who Trade Them Alan G. Futerman , Ivo A. Sarjanovic: Commodities as an Asset Class: Essays on Inflation, the Paradox of Gold and the Impact of Crypto

In our first episode of the Strong Source podcast, we share our personal stories, from the trading floor to starting the commodity intelligence platform Vesper. But that's not all! Join us as we dive into why the agri commodity world is so interesting. From the thrill of the markets to the impactful role of agriculture, we spill the beans on what makes this industry so special.ReferencesBook: Commodities as an Asset Class: Essays on Inflation, the Paradox of Gold and the Impact of Crypto (Palgrave Studies in Classical Liberalism) Alan G. Futerman and Ivo A. Sarjanovic.

Get ready to dive deep into the world of commodities with Strong Source, a podcast featuring two industry veterans who know trading inside and out. In this trailer, we introduce Martijn and Alexander, two former traders with a wealth of experience and a passion for innovation.