Strong Source

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.