Trafigura has appointed Hervé Otschudi as Executive Director, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hervé brings more than two decades of experience across commodities, mining and financial services in the DRC and is a Congolese national. He has held a number of senior roles in the DRC, including as Business Development Advisor to the Board of Directors for Gécamines, the state-owned Congolese mining company.
In his new role, Hervé will be responsible for strategic business development in the DRC, including government and institutional engagement. He will oversee Trafigura's business activities in the country, which include trading activities across energy, metals and minerals and associated logistics operations.
Hervé Otschudi, Executive Director, DRC, at Trafigura, commented: "Having worked across commodities in the DRC for more than 20 years, I have seen first-hand the extraordinary resource potential of this country and the critical role it plays in global supply chains. I look forward to working with the Trafigura team to deepen our relationships with government, institutions and commercial partners, and to building on the strong foundation the company has established here."
Gonzalo De Olazaval, Global Head of Metals & Minerals at Trafigura, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Hervé to his new role. His deep in-country expertise across the DRC's commodities sector makes him exceptionally well-placed to lead our business activities there. The DRC is an important and growing hub for metals, minerals and energy, and this appointment reflects our long-term commitment to the country and to the customers we serve across the region."
Trafigura in the DRC
Trafigura has been present in the DRC for over 25 years, serving customers across energy, metals and minerals. The company employs more than 80 people in-country and operates logistics infrastructure to support its trading activities, including significant storage capacity for refined metals, concentrates and chemicals required for mining. Trafigura is also a shareholder in the Lobito Atlantic Railway, an open-access rail corridor connecting the DRC's Copperbelt to the port of Lobito in Angola, providing an efficient route for the export and import of goods.
