Marcel is the founder and Managing Director of Laplace Conseil, an independent management consultancy firm he created in 1995, specialised in international strategy consulting for the metals, minerals and recycling industries. He has conducted numerous missions for the iron and steel industries as well as non-ferrous, scrap, and mineral companies, in Europe and abroad, in the areas of globalisation, merger and acquisition, restructuring, risk management and performance improvement. In most of his work, Marcel helps CEO’s and top executives anticipate, react to, and deal with the evolutions of the global scene such as technology innovation, China emergence, international competitiveness, prices and profits volatility. Today, Marcel is particularly helping his clients to assess the impact and opportunities for the steel and metal industries created by Climate Change and its necessary adaptations. Prior to Laplace Conseil, Marcel was a consultant for 15 years with McKinsey & Company where he became the senior partner in charge of the Firm’s worldwide steel practice. Marcel holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MSc in electrical engineering from the University of Liège.

After graduating from Oxford University in 1977, with a degree in Mathematics, Dick has spent the last 42 years permanently employed in the steel trade. Over half of those years with current employer Stemcor. Dick’s experience ranges from his earlier years importing flat rolled steel and long products into the UK market, through a period trading long products across the globe, then a decade trading raw materials for steel making, and for the last five years looking after much of Stemcor’s European import and distribution business. Three times Chairman of the International Steel Trade Association, Dick has a wealth of experience, both sourcing and marketing steel products and steel making raw materials, across the globe.

Laurent is Head of Operational Marketing in the team of CMO Flat Products at ArcelorMittal Europe. Operational marketing includes the following areas of responsibility: market intelligence, demand planning, price policy, commercial steering, value recovery team (non-prime) and trade defence. Laurent joined the Group with Wire Solutions in 1996 as Area Sales Manager Northern Europe and became Commercial Director of Wire & Strands until 2006. He moved to Mittal Steel Europe in Rotterdam as Product Manager Wire Rods, before joining the Corporate Marketing team in Luxembourg shortly after the merger. Since 2012, Laurent was in charge of corporate Group CCM (Commercial Coordination & Marketing) focusing on global market and price intelligence, export coordination, and global trade policy. Laurent holds a Master Degree in Applied Economics at the Faculty of University Antwerp, Belgium, as well as a Master in Business Administration specialising in Marketing at the Vlerick Business School, Belgium.

Amit has been working in Steel Industry in various Sales and Marketing functions since 1979. After graduating in Physics from the University of Delhi, Amit started his career in the central marketing organization of Steel Authority of India Ltd. After working in various positions, he joined the Ispat Hamburger Stahlwerke in Germany as Head of the Sales and Marketing in September 1995. He has worked in various positions in Ispat International/ Mittal Steel/ ArcelorMittal and is currently the Chief Marketing Officer, ArcelorMittal Europe Long Products, which is based in Luxembourg.

Arnaud Guerendel has been in the steel business for more than 33 years, starting his carrier in Arcelor group early 90s taking care of automotive subcontractors in France. In 1996, he started to work for SSAB and held various positions in Europe. He left the company in 2007 and for 8 years held senior positions at the Russian steel producer NLMK and DUFERCO International Trading Holding, based in Switzerland. Over the years he has acquired a wealth of knowledge regarding the global steel business and complex assets in steel industries, included trading. Start 2016 he returned to SSAB as global director for their automotive business and operates since 2020 as Director of Strategic Development for SSAB CTO organization.

Artur is a graduate of the Mining Faculty of the AGH University of Science and Technology Stanisława Staszica in Kraków in the fields of: Underground Engineering, Operation of Deposits and Management and Marketing. He is the author and co-author of many research works, and scientific publications in the field of mining. From July 2016, he was employed at Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) as the Representative of the Management Board for Technical matters, next in 2017-2019, he was employed as the Deputy President of the Management Board for Strategy and Development. Currently, he is the Representative of the Management Board for the Strategy and Development.

Karl has been Director at the European steel association EUROFER (Brussels), responsible for international relations since April 2007. Prior to joining EUROFER, Karl worked for Arcelor Corporate (Luxembourg) in the International Affairs department (2001). Karl worked in Central sales organization of Sidstahl in Ghent (1997- Flat carbon steel Sector of Arbed) and then joined the Marketing Services in 1999. In 1994, Karl was in charge of the sales coordination for cold-reduced sheets in Central sales organization TradeARBED (Luxembourg). In 1989, Karl was employed in the legal service at steel producer Sidmar - Arbed group (Ghent). Karl has a Law degree from the University of Louvain (1987) and from the College of Europe, Bruges (1988).

Gorkem received his master's degree in Management of Business Administration in 2002 from La Salle University, Philadelphia, USA. He started his career in the US, working in multinational companies such as Saint Gobain. Later, he went on to work in the stock market fortune 500 company SEI Investments as a mutual fund trader in the US. In 2005, he took a challenge in the steel industry and started to work for steel producers as an executive for export markets. Then, he was appointed as a director of the steel desk of LN metals, a commodity trading company in London. In 2012, Gorkem founded Galex Steel International -- a trading house mainly focused on flat steel products and exports to Europe, Turkey, South America, Middle East and Far East. Galex represents reputable government and private mills from China, India and Turkey on regional or project basis. The company covers global markets through its offices in Turkey, China, India and Russia.

Marco is the CEO of DP Trade. Graduated in Business Administration, he has been in the steel trading business since 1993, when he joined Duferco, trading mainly flat products. In 2004, Galimberti moved to Carbofer, where he was a co CEO. He has been at DP Trade since 2009. 

Alessandro started his career as a consultant in M&A, taxation and corporate finance, he then joined Duferco where he developed his skills as a steel manager. After some years in MMK group as export manager he joined Deltasteel Group where he managed the steel business unit. Since November 2016 he is CEO at Gamma Trade Sa, a Swiss based company, active in steel trading and distribution mainly focused in import of flats into Europe, adding value to European manufacturers through logistic, financing and hedging services.

Ersun is the Marketing and Strategy Manager at Borcelik, which is a joint venture of Borusan Holding of Turkey and ArcelorMittal. Borcelik is a re-roller specialized in giving service to automotive, white (consumer) goods, panel radiator, hvac, industrial packaging and construction sectors. We are one of the biggest exporters of Cold Rolled (CR) and Hot-dip Galvanized (HDG) flat steel, mainly to European Union, Middle East, North America and CIS countries. Ersun has more than 15 years of experience in flat steel; in purchasing, export sales and marketing & strategy divisions.

Ahmet was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1976. He received BSc degree in Management from the Marmara University, Istanbul in 1998 and MSc degree in International Business from the Aston University in Birmingham, UK in 2000. After completing his military service in 2000, he started working in the family company SAMI SOYBAS STEEL as Vice President. Ahmet is married and has two sons. He is General Secretary of YISAD (Turkish Flat Steel products import, export & industry Association) and member of Gebze Chamber of Commerce Council.

Gilles is Managing Director and founder of SteelConsult International, based in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), where he is responsible for conducting strategy projects, market studies, economics analysis and training for the iron & steel industry and raw materials markets. Gilles has over 20 years’ experience working as a consultant to the iron and steel industry. Prior to SteelConsult, he worked with Tata Steel/Corus Consulting in IJmuiden (The Netherlands), and with CRU International and Hatch Beddows in London (UK). Gilles is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, and a regular trainer at public and in-house training courses on steel and raw materials. In the course of his career, Gilles worked for many of the world’s main steel mills, iron ore suppliers, traders and distributors, covering markets for steelmaking raw materials, semis, sheet, plate and longs in countries around the world. Gilles holds a MSc. in Business Economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Derek is the Head of Research at Simpson Spence Young (SSY), one of the largest shipbroking organisations in the world, which has specialist teams working in 18 offices across the globe. Derek coordinates SSY’s analysis of the shipping markets and, in addition to staff based in SSY’s London office, is also responsible for research staff in Singapore. The focus of Derek’s analysis is the dry bulk shipping sector, where he specialises in trade flow analysis and fleet developments.

As Director General of UK Steel, Gareth ensures that the organisation plays a key role in promoting the future success of steel in the UK, as well as highlighting the significant challenges that the sector currently faces. UK Steel is at the heart of the steel sector debate, as the key unified voice of the industry. Gareth began his career in manufacturing before, first representing the milk processing industry on environment and climate change and then joining EEF in 2007, as Head of Climate & Environment Policy. Gareth led EEF’s work on a broad range of environment policies that affect the UK manufacturing sector, with a clear focus on the steel sector. Gareth is also the Executive Director of ISSB (International Steel Statistical Bureau). Gareth graduated from Kings College London with a degree in Environmental Science and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Maja, stepping in her father’s footsteps, joined the steel industry in 2003, after graduating from York University with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She learned the ropes in Stemcor Europe where she worked as a trader/product manager for 11 years, first in London, then in Switzerland and later in Poland. After first trading bulk products such as heavy plate and hot rolled coil, she spent 7 years focusing specifically on Pre-Painted and Aluzinc products. In 2014 Maja joined Nucor Trading, tasked with setting up European trading activities in Cold Rolled and Coated coil products for the company. This has involved building a European sales team and international supply infrastructure, which she manages and orchestrates. In the course of her work she travels extensively, keeping close contact with her suppliers and customers. She has a 3-year-old son and is based in Krakow, Poland.

Heinrich was born in Duisburg 1958.  He holds a general qualification for university entrance at Mannesmann Gymnasium in Duisburg 1977. Studies of economics at the university of Duisburg. Scientific assitant at the chair for financial economics at the university of Duisburg. Since 1991 employee at the Federation of the German Construction Industry. Since 1994 head of department for construction and economics, responsible for analysis and forecast of construction growth. Since 2018 chief economist.

Roger has 25 years experience in the ferrous sector. He has specialised in steel end use markets and is skilled at using and interpreting trade data as part of market studies. He is a vetted Expert on steel on the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. He has extensive knowledge of the world's steel producers, EAF and integrated routes, and their raw materials requirements, downstream assets and markets. He has performed due diligence on many international steel firms, and ferrous scrap re-processors. Recent work has included flat products, automotive steels including AHSS and UHSS, plate markets, cold rolled, galvanised and pre-painted steels. He has also performed work on long products, electrical steels and tinplate. Since 1993, he has been a close observer of the steel sector in China and its impact on the world.

Tim has led XOM Materials since its founding. His focus is on finding new customers and growing the platform into a global marketplace. Prior to joining XOM Materials, Tim was Chief Operating Officer of kloeckner.i from its inception 2014 until 2017. Throughout his career, he has held multiple leadership roles in steel and metals distribution.

Since 1995 Bertwin is working in different positions for terminal operators in the Netherlands. Sea terminals and inland terminals in Flushing, Nijmegen, Rotterdam are familiar locations for Bertwin. He has both operational and sales experience in breakbulk and containerised cargo. At the moment as a general manager sales of Broekman Breakbulk Terminals, Bertwin is focusing on the product market combinations Steel, Metals, Containers, Machinery,  Power & Energy, Oil & Gas and onshore Wind. Broekman has terminals in de Eemshaven (on/offshore wind hub), Rotterdam Botlek (Steel) and Rotterdam Heijplaat (project cargo)

Hugo has a BA in information sciences from the University of Applied Sciences in The Hague. After working for several years at the local municipal power company, he joined the Port of Rotterdam Authority in 1986. The objective of the Port of Rotterdam Authority is to enhance the port of Rotterdam’s competitive position as a logistics hub and a world-class industrial complex. The Port Authority manages, operates and develops the port and industrial area of Rotterdam. The Port Authority is also responsible for maintaining the safe and smooth handling of shipping in the port area. Hugo has worked at the Port Authority in several management functions. In this time he was responsible for a.o. market research, strategic planning, benchmarking and commodity flow forecasts. Since August 2014 Hugo has the function of Advisor on Breakbulk and Dry Bulk within the Business Analysis & Intelligence department of the Rotterdam Port Authority.

Tomas is the Managing Editor Asia for Kallanish and produces editorial content on the region, with a focus on China, as well as overseeing Kallanish's operations in East Asia. He is based in Shanghai, where he has lived and worked for the last six years. Tomas speaks Mandarin as well as English and Spanish. He has also spent three years in Beijing studying and working. Previously, Tomas worked at Steel Business Briefing, where he joined shortly after graduating with a masters degree in Asian politics from SOAS in London.