Trafigura appoints Tan Chin Hwee as Asia-Pacific CEO

TRAFIGURA Group, one of the largest commodity traders in the world, has appointed Singaporean Tan Chin Hwee as its CEO for the Asia-Pacific.

Mr Tan, 45, is the first Asian to take on a senior management position at Trafigura, which handles about three million barrels of oil a day. The appointment follows the relocation of Trafigura's global headquarters to Singapore in 2012.

He was also the first Asian to become a partner at private equity giant Apollo Global Management, and in 2007 set up Apollo's Singapore Office to develop its Asia business. Prior to that, he was a managing director at American multi-strategy hedge fund firm Amaranth Advisors.

The veteran fund investor had wanted to retire late last year, and was subsequently courted by Trafigura to join the firm to drive its future growth in the Asia-Pacific.

"Much as I had wanted to slow the tempo following an eventful career in investment management, the opportunity to be an integral part of a team who holds a pivotal position in a dynamic sector both in Singapore and globally was compelling," he said in a statement on Monday.