Veronika Akhmadieva

Veronika joined CRU’s Economics Team in September 2021 as an Economist. She focuses on the economic analysis and forecasting for the North America region. Veronika holds a PhD in Economics and Finance specialising in econometrics and applied macroeconomics. Her doctorate focuses on fiscal sustainability and balance of payments solvency, and in addition, covers topics such as income and price elasticities of trade and the macroeconomic impact of the euro. Veronika completed an MSc in Finance and Accounting at Imperial College Business School and a BSc (Honours) in Economics at Brunel University, for which she received a University Prize. Veronika has lectured at Birkbeck, University of London, since 2016, teaching modules such as applied statistics and econometrics, mathematics for finance, and international finance. She has presented her research at academic conferences and at internal and external seminars.

Lynn Lupori

As Head of Consulting, North America, Lynn is focused on guiding the CRU Consulting team to bring exceptional insight into strategic questions to companies with interests in the mining, metals and fertilizer related industries throughout North America. 

Lynn is focused on working with customers to develop and execute projects related to important and strategic issues such as market analysis, strategy development, risk assessment, as well as valuation services and negotiation support.

Prior to joining CRU, Lynn worked for nearly 20 years with domestic as well as international manufacturers (primarily in the metals and mining industries) determining strategic growth opportunities as a Managing Consultant with Hatch Consulting. Throughout, her career she has worked with North American as well as global companies on issues such as market assessment/forecasting, capital investment plans, marketing and competitive strategy.

Lynn holds a BSBA and a Certificate in International Business from Duquesne University.

Lynn is based in CRU's Pittsburgh office.

Sonja De Klerk

Sonja joined Ore & Metal Company Ltd, a Division of Assore Ltd, in 2004 as part of the marketing and sales team responsible for all Assmang’s products worldwide.  Over the span of her career she has been involved in the sales of Chrome Ore and Alloy, Iron Ore, Manganese Ore as well as Manganese Alloys.  The majority of which she spent in Manganese.

She is the Senior Sales Manager of the Manganese Alloy Sales Division responsible for the sales strategy for a two South African Ferromanganese smelters as well as a Ferromanganese smelter in Malaysia owned either fully or jointly by Assmang, which is a JV between Assore and African Rainbow Minerals.  Sonja holds a Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics from the University in South Africa.

Rutvij Shah

Rutvij Shah, a 15+ year veteran in international trade is the Vice President at Ni-Met Metals (USA) Inc. He is a husband, a father of two bright lights and a devout family man.

Proficient in four languages, Rutvij has developed a thriving supply chain across multiple regions to service our customers’ requirements, while always maintaining his focus on serviceability and high-quality products. He has a proven track record in successfully navigating the complexities of the North American Ferroalloy landscape!

Using his experiences and sharp business acumen, Rutvij has been instrumental in Ni-Met’s recent success; and utilizing his love for all things technology, he has led a significant modernization of Ni-Met’s operations, and facilities.

Willis Thomas

Willis Thomas joined CRU Consulting in February 2017. He has worked in the metals industry for more than five years, in pricing, sales, production, and procurement activities. Since joining he has worked with a range of commodities including Tin, Zinc, Potash, Phosphates, Pig Iron, and Wire and Cable.

Previously, Willis was the Inside Sales and Production Manager at Kapp Alloy & Wire, Inc., a US-based manufacturer of solder and other non-ferrous wires. There he focused on daily metal pricing for raw and finished products, metals purchasing, and the management of production operations. Before this he worked in economic development with a focus on business outreach and retention. Willis holds an MS in Finance from Colorado State University and a BA in Political Science from Washington & Jefferson College.

Matthew Schmink

Matthew Schmink is the General Manager at AmeriTi Manufacturing, a division of Kymera International. AmeriTi Manufacturing produces ferrotitanium, titanium scrap products, titanium hydride-dehydride powder, and processes scrap for the aerospace industry. The company is in Detroit, Michigan where it employs 140 people.

Mr. Schmink began his career in telecommunications following completion of his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined the AmeriTi team in 2006 and has served in a variety of roles within the organization. In 2015, Mr. Schmink completed a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Clare Hanna

Clare Hanna joined CRU in August 2019 and currently works as a Senior Analyst covering Manganese Ore and Ferroalloys and is Editor of the Bulk Ferroalloys Monitor.

Ms Hanna has over 30 years’ experience in the steel industry with British Steel, Tata Steel and Corus in a range of strategy, sales, marketing and procurement roles. Recent responsibilities include business development for wire rod and, prior to that,  lead buyer ferroalloys for Tata Steel Group.

She holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and BA Honours degree in Economics from Leeds University.

Kai Hasenclever

Mr. Hasenclever has been the Director of Economics & Statistics and Long Products at the ISSF International Stainless Steel Forum in Brussels since 2014. He has more than 17 years of experience in stainless steel.

Having grown up in Germany, India, Taiwan, the USA and Brazil he started his professional career in 1995 in New York City at Ferrostaal Inc. in international steel and raw material trade and subsequently became a board member assistant in the German corporate headquarters of Ferrostaal AG. After working in the management of the metal market place www.steelscreen.com he joined ThyssenKrupp in 2001. There he held several senior management positions in ThyssenKrupp group companies, foremost at ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG with the focus on stainless steel project management, consultancy, strategy and raw material studies.

Megan McElwain

Megan McElwain earned her B.A. in Communications at Ryerson University in 2000. Throughout her career Megan produced content for Fox Television in Los Angeles, A&E Television Networks in New York and then Alliance Atlantis, CTV News,Discovery Channel, BBC, National Geographic and Global News from Toronto.

In 2008, Megan founded McElwain & Company, a marketing firm in downtown Torontothat quickly distinguished itself as the go-to agency for brands from GreatWest Life, MNP,  Price Waterhouse Coopers, PCL, Nestle Canada and GAP Inc. In 2018, Megan joined the Fraser Institute, an independent public policy research and education organization, as Director of Development. Two years later, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce offered Megan the Vice President & General Manager position. Megan was appointed President & COO of KWG Resources in January 2022.

Chris Gnann

Chris Gnann has held his current position since March 2022.  In this capacity, Chris has responsibility for Climax Molybdenum’s global sales and market development for molybdenum products to both the chemical and steel industries.  He also manages commercial operations including third party toll conversion of molybdenum products.

Chris joined Climax Molybdenum in 2007 following a 21-year career in the United States Air Force.  From 2007 to the present, Chris has held successive roles of increasing responsibility within Climax’s Sales and Marketing department. Chris holds a Master of Science degree from Purdue University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Campbell University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.

Sam Desai

Sam Desai is the Vice President of RM Metals. He graduated with a Doctorate degree from the University of Sciences in Philadelphia in 2000. After working 2 years in the health care field, he joined RM Metals on a full-time basis as a salesman in 2001. Over the years, he has helped expand RM Metals product line to include stainless steel flat rolled, scrap, bars and pipe/tubing. Currently, he devotes majority of his time to sales and marketing of stainless steel worldwide.

Jorn de Linde

Jorn P. de Linde was appointed to his current position following the merger between Resource Strategies Inc. and CRU International in April 1996. Based in the United States, he specialises in ferroalloys-related research, with particular emphasis on silicon-based alloys and electric power, drawing on 30 years of experience. In addition to the manganese ferroalloy cost data service, Mr de Linde is the principal author of CRU’s silicon metal market outlook and silicon cost data service reports.

Mr de Linde also is a contributor to other CRU ferroalloy-related reports, including the Bulk Ferroalloys Monitor. He earned an MSc Degree in Mineral Economics from the Pennsylvania State University in the USA and holds an MBA (Siviløkonom) from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen, Norway.

Siddharth Bothra

Siddharth is the Founder & CEO of IQ Group. He has extensive experience of more than 2 decades in various business segments including metallurgical industry. His strength lies in a deep understanding of global commodity market & logistics operations. 

Under his leadership, IQ Group forayed into diverse arenas encompassing the areas of global sourcing & supply of Ferro Alloys, Noble Alloys, Minerals, Metals, Ores, Chemical, & Carbon Materials creating a unique niche every step of the way.

He has played a pivotal role in setting up international operations & expanding our footprints in global markets. He is the support that enabled us to take the business forward across the international boundaries. 

The strategy roadmap defined under his leadership has transformed IQ Group into an organisation focused on creating sustainable value through robust risk management framework that delivered consistent top returns through decisive strategic choices in businesses. 

His strength lies in maintaining close ties with the clients across the spectrum. He is the public face of the IQ Group with excellent PR skills to his credit.

Charlie Durant

Charlie Durant joined CRU in 2010. He is a Research Manager within CRU’s Sustainability Division, providing thought leadership, insight and data on emissions, the energy transition, and the circular economy.

Charlie was previously Head of Demand and Markets Research in CRU’s Base and Battery Metals team. In this role he managed a global team of analysts, delivering world-class research on all aspects of base, battery, precious and technology metal markets.

Earlier in his career he was editor of the Copper Market Outlook, as well as Head of CRU’s Aluminium Downstream and Demand Team. Charlie also was part of a team that established CRU’s Thermal Coal market research.

He gained a Master’s in International Business at the University of Nottingham, where he also obtained his undergraduate degree.