Claude Dauphin, the founder and executive chairman of Trafigura died at the age of 64 at a hospital in Bogota, Colombia after a hard-fought battle with cancer, according to the company.
Last year, Dauphin was diagnosed with cancer and sought medical treatment. He decided to step down as CEO but remained executive chairman of Trafigura. The company appointed Jeremy Weir to take over as CEO.
Dauphin is a leading figure in the commodity industry
Dauphin was one of the world’s most influential commodity traders for more than three decades. He built Trafigura as one of the biggest physical commodities trading groups worldwide.
According to the company, Dauphin remained hardworking and energetic despite his illness. Throughout his leadership, Dauphin drove the company’s growth with entrepreneurial ambition, hands-on management style, and fierce attention to detail.
Dauphin demanded loyalty from staff and created a uniquely collegial culture and built the company around employee ownership.
“Claude will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and a vast network of business partners, as well as by us all. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for a career full of achievement and entrepreneurial endeavour, energy, inspirational leadership, generosity of spirit, humility and humor. Our deepest condolences go to his wife and children,” said Weir in a statement.
Trafigura experienced significant growth over the past decade
Dauphin together with five partners founder Trafigura in 1993. From a small company with an experienced management team, Trafigura became one of the world’s leading independent traders of oil, metals, and minerals.
Trafigura sources, stores, transports and delivers a range of raw materials (including oil and refined products and metals and minerals) to clients around the world. The company’s industrial and financial assets support its trading business.
Trafigura owns 49% Puma Energy, a global products storage and distribution company and Impala Terminals, a global terminals, warehousing and logistics operator. The company also owns 50% of DT Group, which specializes in logistics and trading, and Galena Asset Management.
Over the past ten years, Trafigura experienced significant growth with $128 billion turnovers last year from $12 billion in 2003.
