EMEA Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Commodities Risk Transition - Commodities

We are working on a high-impact opportunity for an EMEA COO within a leading global financial institution's commodities platform, based in London.

The business operates across the full commodities value chain, delivering risk management, financing, physical execution, and logistics solutions to a global client base. The EMEA footprint spans multiple key financial centres with a workforce of approximately 250 professionals.

Position Overview

This is a central leadership role, closely aligned to the Front Office and senior stakeholders, focused on driving operational performance, strategic delivery, and regulatory oversight across the EMEA region.

You will lead a team and act as the key conduit between the business and core infrastructure functions , ensuring the platform is scalable, controlled, and commercially effective.

Importantly, this role is not revenue-generating or business development focused , as that function sits within a dedicated Business Development team. The remit is centred on enabling, optimising, and scaling the platform to support front office activity .

The client is also particularly interested in individuals from commodities risk backgrounds who are looking to transition into a COO / business management role, providing a clear pathway into a broader leadership mandate.

Core Responsibilities

Regional Oversight & Leadership

• Provide oversight of EMEA operations, ensuring alignment with business strategy and performance objectives
• Lead and develop a team responsible for core middle office and operational activities

Stakeholder Management & Governance

• Act as a trusted partner to Front Office, enabling revenue-generating teams to focus on commercial activity
• Manage engagement with internal stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Technology, Legal, Operations, Tax, and Compliance
• Support regulatory interactions, including management information, escalations, and responses to enquiries

Trading Platform & Process Optimisation

• Oversee end-to-end trade lifecycle processes including booking, P&L, and reporting
• Drive enhancements across booking models, new product implementation, and process automation
• Identify and mitigate operational risk through continuous improvement initiatives

Management Information & Insight

• Deliver clear, actionable MI and dashboards to senior leadership
• Provide oversight on reporting linked to regulatory and booking frameworks

Strategic Change & Delivery

• Partner with business teams to implement new commercial initiatives and transactions
• Lead collaboration with Technology on system enhancements and platform evolution
• Support execution of complex transactions, including strategic projects and acquisitions
• Coordinate internal expertise to deliver key transformation programmes

Candidate Profile

• 10+ years' experience within financial markets or commodities , ideally in a COO, business management, or risk-aligned role
• Strong understanding of EMEA regulatory requirements and experience managing regulatory engagement
• Exposure to physical commodities and derivative products
• Broad understanding of finance, capital, governance, and tax considerations
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across front office and control functions
• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and commercially aware
• Strong academic background in a relevant discipline

Why This Opportunity

• Directly aligned to the front office with significant commercial exposure (without a BD mandate)
• Ideal transition opportunity for commodities risk professionals into a COO leadership role
• Broad remit across physical and financial commodities markets
• High visibility with senior leadership across EMEA
• Opportunity to drive platform improvement, automation, and strategic initiatives

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