June 04, 2024 [Reuters]- Commodities trader Trafigura Group has hired Russian oil giant Rosneft’s former top executive, Otabek Karimov, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Karimov was vice president for commerce and logistics at state-supported Rosneft Oil, before leaving that position when the European Union imposed sanctions on the Russian energy producer in May 2022, the report added.

Karimov is from Uzbekistan, and his focus will be on metals, a source close to the company told Reuters. It was unclear what his official role would be, according to the WSJ.

“We do not comment on personnel matters,” a Trafigura spokesperson said in response to a Reuters request for comment.

“Trafigura terminated its long-term offtake contracts for crude oil and petroleum products with state-owned Russian producers in advance of European sanctions coming into effect in May 2022,” the Trafigura spokesperson added.

Early last month, Trafigura agreed to buy more of UK-based biodiesel firm Greenergy, boosting its position in renewable energy after unveiling plans to acquire the firm’s European business roughly two months ago.

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