Case Studies
Client Case Studies
Commodity and shipping search assignments, from the commercial brief to the completed appointment.
Imperium Commodity Search works with trading houses, brokerages, shipping businesses and other market participants on executive and specialist appointments. We define each search around the client’s requirements, map the relevant businesses and individuals, and approach professionals whose experience fits the brief.
These six examples show how that work applies to product expansion, desk launches, international leadership, regional growth and specialist replacement hiring. Each summary explains the challenge, our approach and the supported outcome. The accompanying PDF provides further detail about the assignment and its outcome.
Client and candidate identities are withheld. Some details have been generalised to preserve confidentiality.
Launching an Energy Options Desk
Energy Options · London
A brokerage initially sought one leader to launch its energy options desk. We mapped competing businesses and approached relevant brokers, using market feedback to recommend two complementary appointments.
Outcome: Both brokers joined and launched the desk. Our relationship expanded to six appointments, including the Operations Director and other senior financial roles, helping build the team ahead of the firm’s subsequent acquisition.
Senior Aluminium Trading Appointment
Aluminium · London
A non-ferrous trading house wanted to establish aluminium coverage. We searched specialist aluminium businesses and competing merchants for a senior trader with the product expertise and commercial relationships to develop the new capability.
Outcome: The appointed trader established the aluminium activity and remained with the firm, developing the product area within its existing trading platform.
Adding Animal Feed Trading Capability
Animal Feed & Ingredients · London
An agricultural trading house wanted a new product area compatible with its existing logistics and financing. We mapped adjacent markets and directly approached traders with relevant containerised product experience and customer relationships.
Outcome: The client established its animal feed and ingredients activity. The appointed trader remained with the firm, developing a business suited to the platform’s operating model.
Global FFA Brokerage Leadership
Dry Freight Derivatives · Global Remit
An interdealer broker needed a global FFA leader with dry freight derivatives expertise and experience building a desk. We mapped senior professionals internationally and directly approached a longstanding industry contact whose background matched the brief.
Outcome: The leader joined, remained with the business and developed the FFA operation. We subsequently placed a junior professional into the London team, supporting its further growth.
Three-Market Agricultural Expansion
Grains & Edible Oils · APAC & North Africa
An agricultural producer, trader and processor needed trading capability across Australia, Thailand and North Africa. Under a rolling retainer, we addressed each market’s requirements for product knowledge, local customer relationships and language skills, supporting one coordinated expansion programme.
Outcome: All three appointments were completed, and the hires remained with the business. Each established local trading coverage within their respective market, giving the client sustained commercial capability across the three target regions.
Marine Fuel Testing Leadership
Bunkers & Marine Fuels · Singapore
A bunker business needed a replacement head of testing and analysis within a small technical talent pool. We searched specialist laboratories, analysis firms and suppliers with in-house testing, directly approaching professionals with relevant marine fuel experience.
Outcome: The appointed candidate maintained continuity in the testing function and remained with the business, providing sustained technical leadership in a difficult-to-source specialism.
Other Selected Appointments
Further completed searches across commodity trading, brokerage, shipping and financial markets.
The appointments below are a small selection from more than 100 retained search mandates undertaken over the past five years. They illustrate the breadth of our work across commodity products, specialist functions and international markets.
Ferroalloy Trader | United States
Appointed a ferroalloy trader for a metals trading house establishing a US desk, combining specialist product experience with domestic market knowledge.
Senior Power Broker | London
Recruited a senior power broker to develop Italian and Spanish client coverage, requiring relevant language skills, counterparty relationships and experience in power spreads.
Dairy Traders | United States
An initial single-hire brief developed into two complementary appointments, expanding a dairy trading house’s coverage of dry dairy products, including whey and powders.
LNG & Gas Proprietary Trader | London
Appointed a proprietary trader for an oil trading house developing a gas-related desk. The search evolved towards LNG and JKM expertise, with detailed assessment of trading track records.
Head of Coal Sourcing | Indonesian Market
Completed a leadership appointment for a Singapore-based business developing its Indonesian sourcing activity, requiring mine relationships and previous experience growing a team.
Edible Oils & Oilseeds Desk Head | London
Appointed a desk leader for an agricultural trading business establishing a London presence, combining product expertise, West African market relationships and team-building capability.
Chartering Manager | Spain
Recruited a chartering manager for a shipowner opening a Spanish desk. The search combined local market mapping, referrals and discreet approaches within a small specialist talent pool.
Managing Director, Institutional Sales | New York
Appointed an institutional sales leader for an FCM, requiring relationships with funds, CTAs, banks and investors, alongside listed futures and options clearing and execution experience.
Senior Portfolio Manager | Switzerland
Recruited a senior portfolio manager to broaden an investment firm’s offering and develop investor relationships. The appointed individual subsequently progressed to partner within the business.
Head of Compliance | London
Completed an investment-firm leadership appointment covering SMF16 and SMF17 responsibilities, supporting a business planning broader asset-class coverage, including commodity investments.
Head of Trade Finance | London
Appointed a trade finance leader for an energy trading house developing banking relationships across the UK and Europe, combining bank-side experience with subsequent experience inside a trading business.
Head of Price Forecasting | United States
Recruited a research leader covering agriculture, soft commodities and metals for a business expanding into the US. The individual subsequently progressed into broader commercial leadership.
A successful search is measured by what the appointment makes possible.
Discuss Your Search
A specialist hire, a new desk or a wider hiring programme.
Whether you are adding a specialist trader, launching a desk, appointing senior leadership or expanding into another market, tell us what the business needs to achieve.
Speak with one of our partners about the experience, relationships and capability you need; and how we would approach finding them.
