Claude Dauphin (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claude Dauphin
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| Born | 10 June 1951 Houlgate, France
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| Died | 30 September 2015 (aged 64) Bogotá, Colombia
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Executive chairman of Trafigura Beheer BV |
| Known for | Billionaire commodities trader |
Claude Dauphin (born 10 June 1951 – died 30 September 2015) was a French businessman. He was a very important leader at Trafigura Beheer BV. This company buys and sells raw materials like oil, metals, and ores around the world. Claude Dauphin was one of the people who helped start Trafigura. He also used to be the company's main boss (CEO). In 2013, he was estimated to be worth a billion dollars. Claude Dauphin passed away in 2015 at age 64 after battling cancer.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Business
Claude Dauphin was born in Houlgate, Normandy, France, on June 10, 1951. He left school at 16 to start working. His first job was helping his father with a scrap metal business. Later, he moved to Paris and began trading special metals called ferro-alloys. This was his first experience in the world of buying and selling raw materials.
Building a Career in Trading
Joining Marc Rich + Co
In 1977, Claude Dauphin met Felix Posen, a leader at a big trading company called Marc Rich + Co. Posen hired him to work there. Claude Dauphin's first job for the company was in Bolivia. He helped manage their business in that country.
Later, he moved to New York and then to Switzerland. He became the head of trading for zinc and lead, which are types of metals. By 1988, he was part of the company's main leadership team. He led the oil trading part of the business.
Starting Trafigura
In 1992, Claude Dauphin left Marc Rich + Co. He then took over his family's business. He changed its name to Ecore and made it an international company that managed waste. He stayed involved with this family business for the rest of his life.
In early 1993, Claude Dauphin teamed up with five other people who had also left Marc Rich. Together, they started a new company called Trafigura Beheer B.V.. This new company became a competitor in the world of commodity trading.
Trafigura's Growth and Success
In its first year, Trafigura quickly became successful in oil trading. The company also made good money by supplying raw materials to China. Over time, Trafigura grew to be one of the top three oil trading companies in the world.
In 2000, Trafigura bought a company called Puma Energy. Puma Energy focused on delivering and selling fuel in Latin America. By 2014, Puma Energy had grown a lot. It operated in 45 countries and made billions of dollars in revenue.
Claude Dauphin always believed that Trafigura should remain a private company. This meant it wasn't owned by many different shareholders. He thought this was the best way for a trading company to work. Between 2005 and 2014, Trafigura's revenue grew ten times, reaching $127 billion.
Responding to Challenges
In 2006, there was an environmental incident in Ivory Coast. A local company had improperly disposed of waste around a port city. Claude Dauphin went to Ivory Coast to help the authorities. He and four other people were held for several months while the situation was investigated.
Trafigura stated they were not responsible for the improper disposal. However, to help get their employees released, the company agreed to pay $198 million. After this, Claude Dauphin and his colleagues were released, and the government dropped its investigation.
Final Years and Legacy
Claude Dauphin was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Even while ill, he continued to work very hard. He chose Jeremy Weir to be Trafigura's new chief executive officer. Claude Dauphin kept traveling for business until the end of his life. He worked to secure important oil deals in Nigeria and Angola just weeks before he passed away.
Personal Life
Claude Dauphin married his wife, Catherine, in July 1976. They had three children named Aurélie, Guillaume, and Charlotte. He passed away in Bogota, Colombia, on September 30, 2015, while on a business trip. He was survived by his wife, children, and five grandchildren.
Claude Dauphin was known as a strong and disciplined leader. He was a private person and did not often speak in public. One of the few times he gave a public speech was in 2001. This was when he received a special award from the French President, Jacques Chirac. The award was called the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Claude Dauphin was also involved in the good work done by the Trafigura Foundation. This foundation helps with charity projects.
Images for kids
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Claude Dauphin
