Dubai-based fertiliser trader and distributor FertiStream has hired a seasoned dry-cargo man to head up its freight activities.
Srinath Venkateswar started as managing director of the division on 1 August and will oversee the company’s operated fleet of bulkers, bunker tankers and LPG carriers.
Venkateswar has previously been head of chartering for miner South32 and served as Torvald Klaveness’ head of dry bulk in the Pacific.
He founded his own freight-trading firm and bulker operator Mizzen in January last year, of which he was chief executive.
Venkateswar told TradeWinds that Mizzen will now be headed up by Sachin Matpal, an ex-Cargill trader who has been global head of geared vessels and capesizes since the Dubai-based company was established.
FertiStream is a trading company with offtake agreements in place for fertilisers, comprising nitrogen-based products, phosphates, potassium and complex fertilisers.
Venkateswar said he has a mandate to build the freight book and optimise it by operating vessels around FertiStream’s captive internal flow of cargoes.
He will manage the company’s team of freight traders and work alongside Jan Peder Myklebost, who is head of physical freight.
FertiStream booked more than 5m tonnes in sales volumes during the first half of this year, according to its website, and has operations in South and Central America, South East Asia, China, Europe and in Africa, as of June.
It operates a fleet of bulkers on time charter and on voyage charter relets. Its tanker activities comprise bunker tankers and LPG carriers.
Venkateswar’s appointment follows the abrupt resignation in April of Alessio La Rosa, who joined as managing partner and head of freight in September 2023 after a spell as head of freight at Eurochem.
