Trafigura Appoints Hervé Otschudi as Executive Director for the DRC

Global commodities trader Trafigura has appointed Hervé Otschudi as Executive Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a corporate statement released by the company. In his new position, Otschudi will be responsible for strategic business development across the DRC, managing institutional and government engagement alongside overseeing Trafigura’s local trading activities in energy, metals, and minerals, as well as its related logistics operations.

A Congolese national, Otschudi brings more than two decades of experience in the country's financial services, mining, and commodities sectors. His career includes senior leadership roles in the DRC, notably serving as Business Development Advisor to the Board of Directors at state-owned mining company Gécamines. Commenting on the appointment, Otschudi highlighted the DRC's critical role in global supply chains and expressed his intent to deepen relations with government, institutional, and commercial partners while building on the group's established regional footprint.

Gonzalo De Olazaval, Global Head of Metals & Minerals at Trafigura, noted that Otschudi's in-country background across the Congolese commodities sector positions him to lead the group's business activities in the region. De Olazaval added that the DRC represents an important and growing hub for energy, metals, and minerals, with the leadership appointment reflecting the firm's long-term commitment to the country.

Trafigura has maintained an operational presence in the DRC for over 25 years and currently employs more than 80 people in the country. The company's trading activities are supported by localized infrastructure, including storage capacity for refined metals, concentrates, and essential mining chemicals. Additionally, Trafigura is a shareholder in the Lobito Atlantic Railway, an open-access rail corridor connecting the Congolese Copperbelt to the port of Lobito in Angola to support regional import and export movements.

According to company disclosures, Trafigura operates in over 150 countries with approximately 14,500 employees globally. Beyond its core trading operations, the wider Trafigura Group holds interests in industrial assets and operating businesses, including multi-metals producer Nyrstar, fuel distribution companies Puma Energy and Greenergy, and joint venture Impala Terminals.