Food manufacturing
10 commodity hedging experts
These ten professionals have held commodity hedging or commodity risk management roles inside operating companies. A reader can learn how in-house teams use derivatives to manage the price risk of the commodities their companies depend on.
Professionals to explore
01—10Ben Bergum
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director Fuel Hedging - Refinery and Airline · Delta Air Lines
Former Managing Director Fuel Hedging - Refinery and Airline at Delta Air Lines (2014–2020) and Director of Trading and Risk at Arconic (2020–2021). Senior Trader - CRM Cross Commodity at Cargill since 2025. The profile describes expertise assessing the commodity price risk profile of organizations and building risk management programs.
Brandon Webb
LinkedInExperience: Global Group Lead - Commodity Risk Management - Dairy, Meat, Coffee (Big 3) · Kraft Heinz
Former Global Group Lead - Commodity Risk Management - Dairy, Meat, Coffee (Big 3) (2017–2025) and Global Lead - Global Commodity Risk Manager - Dairy (2016–2017) at Kraft Heinz. Former Senior Commodity Risk Manager at Darigold (2015–2016).
Brett Garton
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Commodity Hedging · Simmons Foods
Vice President Commodity Hedging at Simmons Foods since 2024, alongside the Corporate Director of Purchasing role there held since 1997. The profile lists purchasing, risk management and hedging among this person's areas of work.
Brett Pendell
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Commodities Hedging · Smithfield Foods
Former Senior Director, Commodities Hedging (2019–2023), Director, Commodities Hedging (2016–2019) and Manager of Commodities Hedging & Research (2014–2016) at Smithfield Foods. Former Director of Commodity Risk at ARCOP, Inc. (2023) and Senior Director, Commodity at Tyson Foods since 2023.
Bryan Crane
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager, Commodities and Energy Risk · Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Former Senior Manager, Commodities and Energy Risk at Land O'Lakes, Inc. (2014–2021) and Director of Purchasing and Risk there since 2021. The profile describes experience as a director of risk management in the food production industry, with skills in commodity risk management and hedging.
Kai Strasse
LinkedInExperience: Head of Commodity Risk Management · Unilever
Head of Commodity Risk Management at Unilever since 2023, where the profile says this person is rebuilding Unilever's commodity risk management group and implementing a revised risk policy and governance. Former Global Group Lead Commodity Risk Management at Kraft Heinz (2021–2023) and Director, Commodity Risk Management at Kellogg Company (2016–2021).
Matthew Weeks
LinkedInExperience: Snr Mgr Commodity Risk Management - Cocoa · The Hershey Company
Snr Mgr Commodity Risk Management - Cocoa at The Hershey Company since 2024, where the profile describes this person as the derivatives trader responsible for Hershey's cocoa hedging and risk management. Former Head of Commodity Risk Management at Nyrstar (2014–2020) and Commodity Risk Manager (CTRM) at Unilever (2011–2014).
Sébastien Portier
LinkedInExperience: Fuel Hedging & Commodity Risk Manager · Air France
Former Fuel Hedging & Commodity Risk Manager at Air France (2019–2021). Cocoa Derivatives Trader at Cargill since 2025 and former Senior Sugar Trader at Cargill (2022–2025).
Xinyu Wang
LinkedInExperience: Manager, Commodity Analysis and Hedging · Restaurant Services, Inc.
Former Manager, Commodity Analysis and Hedging (2009–2018) and Director, Commodity Analysis & hedging (2018–2022) at Restaurant Services, Inc., and Associate Vice President, Commodity Risk Management & Business Insights there since 2022. The profile describes taking forward positions with derivatives to manage risk for North American Burger King restaurants across commodities including beef, chicken, wheat, corn and coffee.
Zoltan Klagyivik
LinkedInExperience: Director Commodity Price Risk Management Dairy, Nuts and Ingredients · Mondelēz International
Director Commodity Price Risk Management Dairy, Nuts and Ingredients at Mondelēz International since 2022 and former Associate Director Commodity Price Risk Management Dairy there (2018–2022). The profile cites skills in dairy price risk management, grains and vegetable oils. Former Commodities Trader (dairy & grains), CRM at Unilever (2010–2018).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's commodities to yours, since hedging cocoa or dairy differs from hedging jet fuel or livestock inputs. Ask each person whether they set hedging policy, executed trades or reported positions to finance, so you know which part of the program they can speak to.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide what share of expected commodity needs to hedge and how far out?
- 02How do you set a hedging policy that leadership and the board will accept?
- 03How do you measure whether the hedging program is working when market prices move against you?
Reaching commodity hedging experts
How can I contact one of these commodity hedging experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Delta Air Lines, Kraft Heinz and Simmons Foods, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach commodity hedging experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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