Christophe Allain

Christophe Allain is Group Portfolio Vice President, Non-Ferrous Metals, at Nexans, a role he has held since January 2012. The bulk of the commodities managed by Christophe are copper, aluminium and lead with the total spend ranges between €4.0 billion and €5.0 billion. Previously, Christophe was in charge of Group Purchasing Control and Offshore Sourcing within Nexans for five years. Before joining Nexans, Christophe worked for Safran, one of the leading French Aerospace & Defense companies and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He has been a member of the London Metal Exchange Copper Committee since 2018. Christophe is a graduate of the French business School ESCP Europe where he majored in Finance and Industrial Marketing.

Tanja Winter

Tanja Winter's journey into the copper industry began at Berkenhoff GmbH during her school holidays, continuing there during her business studies in Mannheim, Germany incl. a semester in the US. Afterwards, she joined the Rolled Products division at Kemper as a Sales Manager for overseas. Since 2015, she has been with Aurubis, initially as Area Sales Manager, since 2016 as Head of Sales Rod. Tanja co-founded WoMen4Metals, an initiative dedicated to industry branding & female empowerment, actively represents Aurubis in councils at the ICA and LME, co-organizes the NFWireForum, and is a VP of the German Association of Sales Managers.

Charles Mellagui

Charles Mellagui specialized in Energy at Nexans (one of the top cable manufacturers). He has lead businesses under challenging circumstances and delivered good returns to shareholders. He drives strategic planning process, growth, performance, operations and profitability and promotes Health & Safety culture. 

Florian Martin

Florian Martin studied electrical engineering, electrical systems engineering and high-voltage engineering. He received his engineering degree from the University of Karlruhe (TH) in 2003 and completed his doctorate in 2008 as part of a cooperation between HighVolt and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) on the subject of "High Voltage Test System based on Power Electronic Frequency Converter". Since then, Mr. Martin has been working for TenneT TSO GmbH (formerly E.ON Netz). Initially as a specialist for electrical reactive power compensation in substations. In 2013, Mr. Martin moved into management and has since been responsible for various technical areas. Dr. Martin is currently Head of Corporate Asset Technology in Asset Management and, together with the department, is responsible for all guidelines for technical energy transmission systems used by TenneT TSO in the Dutch and German onshore and offshore grids in terms of primary and secondary technology.

Michael Yong

Michael Yong is the Chief Strategy Officer and a member of the management team of the NKT Group – an industry leader within low-, medium- and high-voltage power cable solutions enabling sustainable energy transmission.  Michael has more than 15 years of management experience in the power cable and transformer sectors having had several roles in strategy, commercial, and finance in several countries with NKT, SGB-SMIT Group, Prysmian Group, and Draka Holding. Michael also currently serves in the Board of Directors of Walsin Energy Cable Systems which is developing Taiwan’s first offshore cable factory in collaboration with NKT. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, a MBA from the Insituto de Empresa in Madrid, Spain, and a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Henk Geene

Henk Geene holds a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Following his graduation, he joined the Dutch cable manufacturer NKF (nowadays part of the Prysmian Group), where he managed the development of High and Extra High Voltage cable Accessories. Currently, he holds the position of Commercial Director HV Network Components at Prysmian Group.   Throughout his career, Henk has been actively involved in various professional committees and groups. He has served as convener of several CIGRE Working.

Oleksandr Mykhailov

Simon Price

Simon is CEO of Exawatt, which provides strategic consulting, detailed cost forecasting and supply-chain analysis in sectors that are united by common theme: decarbonisation through electrification. These include energy storage, electric vehicles (EV), power electronics and solar PV. Exawatt’s customers span the entire supply chain, from mining companies to major solar/storage developers and EV manufacturers. The company was acquired by CRU Group in early 2023.   Prior to founding Exawatt in 2015, Simon was the co-founder of a PV module factory design and integration company.

In 2008, he was part of the founding team of a startup technology company dedicated to improving the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells. An electrical engineer by first degree, Simon began his career in the UK steel industry and spent time in the US as a business and technology journalist, management consultant and CEO of a publicly traded US software company, before making the move into renewable energy in 2008.   Simon holds a master’s degree in Science Communication from Imperial College London, and an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Michael Weiss

Michael Weiss is heading the Siemens Purchasing Council (PUC) Cables since mid of 2011. His earlier assignment was the lead of the Strategic Product Portfolio Management Department for Medium Voltage Equipment. Before this he was employed in the Business Excellence Organization of the Power Transmission and Distribution Division. He held various internationally orientated sales positions and in earlier times even within the cable organization of Siemens. Additionally, Mr Weiss gained experience specifically on the Commodity Cables during his time in Siemens cable factories in Berlin and Mudanya, Turkey, where he held different positions in R&D and Quality Management functions.

Joshua Dorfman

Joshua Dorfman is a standout leader in the electric utility and renewable energy industries. He works closely with clients and leading operations in the electric utility, renewable energy, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and commercial construction industries. He oversees all sales, marketing, and procurement operations, and has implemented comprehensive training programs for his team to share his decades of industry expertise. Joshua has been heavily involved in projects generating over 1GW annually in utility-scale PV, wind power and BESS projects since 2008. He focuses on cable engineering, project management, and engineering solutions tailored to the customer’s needs in renewable generation facilities and transmission projects.

Feng Zhao

Feng Zhao is the Head of Strategy and Market Intelligence at Global Wind Energy Council. Prior to joining GWEC in 2019, Feng was the Head of Wind Energy at FTI Consulting’ Economics and Financial Consulting Practice. Before joining FTI, Feng was the Research Director at BTM Consult, the world’s first wind energy consultancy that was acquired by Navigant at the end of 2010. Feng has followed the wind industry for nearly 20 years and have co-authored Global Wind Supply Chain Assessment for wind industry since 2006. He has become a regular speaker at the key wind power conferences held in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Christian Kjaer

Christian Kjaer works as Chief Public Affairs Officer at SuperNode Ltd, in Dublin, Ireland. SuperNode Ltd. is a cutting-edge global technology company that develops terrestrial and subsea superconducting power transmission systems to connect offshore renewable energy generation and facilitate bulk power transfer and grid interconnection. SuperNode was founded by Irish renewable energy entrepreneur Dr. Eddie O’Connor and is co-owned by Irish investors and Norwegian offshore industrial group Aker Horizons.

Christian Kjaer has served as chairperson of Brussels-based CurrENT, the association of innovative grid technology companies, since January 2023. He is Chair of Wind Energy Ireland's Working Group on EU Energy Policy. Christian Kjaer, has more than 20 years of experience in renewable energy. He served as CEO of the European wind energy sector’s industry association WindEurope in Brussels for seven years (2006-2013) and was the organisation’s policy director for four years prior to that.

Christian Kjaer has been Head of Unit at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, advising its 159 member countries on how to develop frameworks for deploying renewable energy technologies and its related infrastructure. He served as senior adviser at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ energy unit, Nordic Energy Research in Oslo and was CEO of Danish wind energy association, WindDenmark (now Green Power Denmark) prior to that. In September 2016, Danish energy minister Lars Chr.

Lilleholt appointed Christian Kjaer to join the Stakeholder Forum (“Energinets Interessentforum”) of Danish national TSO, Energinet. He was reappointed in January 2018. In parallel he served as a member of Energinet's Electricity Market Advisory Board ("Elmarkedets Advisory Board"). Christian Kjaer was a member of the Board of Directors at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) for seven years and a member of the Board of Directors of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) in Brussels from 2006 to 2013. He was an Expert Reviewer on the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Reports on Climate Change (2007 and 2014) and served as Review Editor on the IPCC’s Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources (2011).

Aisling Hubert

Aisling is the editor of CRU's Wire & Cable Market Outlook. Her work involves analysing trends and developments across the global metallic wire and cable industry, accounting for the metal demand of the global energy, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. This work includes quantifying the requirements of electrification necessitated by the global green energy transition on electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Maria Vittoria Giancola

Maria Vittoria Giancola has over 20 years of experience in Innovation Management and Digital Products and Services Development at a National and International level. She is currently in charge of the Digital Strategy and Innovation Portfolio Delivery at Prysmian Group. Maria Vittoria has previously covered the role of Marketing, Digital and Operations Director in Lyca Group in UK, Marketing and Digital Director in Kena Mobile (Italy), and had many responsibilities in TIM SPA. She is also an expert of Digital Channels Management and e-commerce solutions. Maria Vittoria has a master’s degree in Sociology and an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Sebastian Glatz

Sebastian Glatz is the Managing Director of German Cable Makers’ Association (within ZVEI - German Electro and Digital Industry Association). He was born in Hamburg, raised in Europe and has a M.A. phil. in Political Science, Modern History and International Trade Law from Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität Bonn. He has been the Chief-Lobbyist of the German Cable Industry: The Fachverband represents the economic, technological and environmental policy interests of manufacturers of cables, conductors, connection technology and wires at national and international level vis-à-vis standardization bodies, network operators, industry, trade, politics and the public.

Maurizio Bragagni

Dr Bragagni is Chairman and CEO of Tratos Ltd, the manufacturing division of global cable maker Tratos Group, he also serves as a board member.

Under his leadership, the company won the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2019 for one of its most advanced cables.

Embracing the principles of giving back to society, Dr Bragagni set up Esharelife Foundation, with the aim of supporting children, women, and young people throughout the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

A successful entrepreneur with business acumen, Dr Bragagni was appointed Consul of the Republic of San Marino to the UK and Northern Ireland.

Dean Quan

Huixiong Chen

Huixiong Chen is the general Manager of Baosheng (Yang zhou) Ocean Engineering Cable Co., Ltd, which is a joint venture of YOFC and Baosheng group.

Sidharth Agrawal

Mr. Sidharth Agrawal is Managing director of Systematic Group. After graduation he did his MBA from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and worked for a year at Sterlite Industries as Management Trainee.   At young age of 23, he started his own venture Systematic Group / Industries. What started as a humble manufacturing facility, has under his leadership become a leading technology Company in steel wire transformation & coating.   He has played a leading role in propelling Systematic Group on an aggressive path and bringing to its present strata.   He is also the youngest ever elected Chairman of Steel Wire Manufacturers Association of India (SWMAI) SWMAI is the National Body of Steel Wire and Wire Rope Manufacturers in India and is recognized by the Government of India and Steel Producers as the representative Body of Steel Wire and Wire Rope Manufacturers.

Shreegopal Kabra

Shreegopal Kabra, a business leader, philanthropist & global entrepreneur often recognized as a trend setter in the industry is the Managing Director of RR Kabel Ltd and Group President of RR Global, a 1.40 billion USD diversified group of industries focusing mainly on infrastructure & electrical solutions spread across 90+ countries globally. Born in Rajasthan & Educated in Mumbai, Mr. Kabra is credited to being the first to introduce the wires & cables industry in India to Low Smoke Zero Halogen Cables, a unique product that is virtually fireproof, enhancing safety standards which has helped propel the brand to even greater heights. Mr Kabra serves as the Chairman of the International Copper Association (Wire & Cable Division), Executive Council Member of SAARC Chamber of Commerce, Co Chairman of the CII Wire Tech, associating at the highest capacity with IEEMA as its Past President as well as shouldering the responsibility as the Former Chairman of Winding Wire Manufacturers Association for fourteen years. Over the years, Mr. Kabra’s success has been highlighted by several awards, recognitions and felicitations by various bodies and groups from across the world.

Linus Karlsson

Linus Karlsson joined Borealis in 2010 and, has since been working in development and marketing roles related to wire and cable applications. Since 2014, he has held the marketing responsibility of Borealis’ flame retardant products, driving the growth of halogen-free materials and introducing new solutions for solar PV cables, automotive wire and energy cables.

In 2023, Linus moved into the position of Business Growth Manager, Circular Economy Solutions Energy, where he is responsible to lead the growth and implementation of sustainable material solutions in Borealis Energy portfolio. Linus has more than 15 years of experience with wire and cable materials and holds a M.Sc. in Material Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Polymer Science, both from Chalmers University of Technology

Luis Zalamea

In 2002 he earned B.S and M.Sc. degrees in Colombia and in 2007 Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University (USA). Thereafter joined the polymers business unit of Dow in Switzerland and held various roles in technical service and development with emphasis in microcellular foaming and extruded film orientation applications in EMEA adding in 2016 global responsibilities for extrusion coating. In October 2021 joined Dupont’s Mobility and Materials unit as technical service and application development leader for the wire and cable market segment in EMEA. In December 2022 became Application Development Leader for W&C in Celanese Corp. for EMEA Region.

Alberto Lampasona

Alberto is Public Affairs Director at Europacable, the European wire and cable manufacturers association in Brussels which includes the largest cable makers in the world providing global technology leadership, as well as highly specialized small- and medium sized businesses from across Europe. Mr Lampasona joined Europacable in 2018 as Public Affairs Manager, after previously working for public affairs consultancies where he advised clients on energy and environmental policies, the Italian Government delegation managing the Italian EU Presidency of the Council in 2014 and the European Commission. He holds a Master’s Degree in EU International and Diplomacy Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

Leon Bost

Leon is CRU's European Economist and is responsible for CRU's macroeconomic forecasts for Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining CRU, he worked at the Institute for Applied Economic Research in Germany and in the Office of the Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Leon works in the London office and holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Hohenheim in Germany.

Thomas Peter Samson

Thomas Peter Samson is an accomplished professional with a strong background in economics, graduating from the Wirtschaftsakademie Hamburg (WAH). Commencing his career in 1994 at Norddeutsche Affinerie AG, Hamburg, Germany, he gained valuable experience in the Copper Sales Department. Subsequently, in 1996, Thomas Samson transitioned to the Anders Group, a reputable family-owned trader and processor of lumber, where he advanced from an Area Sales Manager to overseeing the furniture panels trading business.

Returning to Norddeutsche Affinerie AG, now Aurubis AG, in 2002, Thomas Samson assumed the role of Key Account Manager, directing sales strategies for Copper Wire Rod and Shapes. His dedication and expertise led to his appointment as Head of Sales for Bars+Profiles and Copper on Account. In addition to his extensive career achievements, Thomas Samson has shown a keen interest in sustainability. In 2021, he contributed significantly to the development of Aurubis' Sustainability Label 'Tomorrow Metals', underscoring his commitment to environmentally responsible business practices.

Stefan Vitko

Stefan Vitko has master degree in business and economics from Bratislava University. He has 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and business development in diverse industrial segments mostly in EMEA region but also globally.   He currently holds the position of Sales and Marketing Director within the Steel Wire Solutions business unit of Bekaert, focusing on development of new sustainable products and solutions in the sector of  Energy and Infrastructure.

Wim Van Haver

Wim Van Haver has an engineering degree in metallurgy from Ghent University, and is a certified welding engineer. He has almost 20 years of experience in the development of more sustainable products and processes, of which 13 years at Bekaert. He currently holds the position of Innovation Director within the Steel Wire Solutions business unit of Bekaert, focussing on sustainable wire products and wire production processes in key segments such as power transmission armouring wires and high strength spring wires. He is responsible for the thermal processes within the Steel Wire Solutions division, is globally responsible for welding processes in Bekaert, and is leading the Wire Expertise Lab.

Joseph Gil

Joe has over eight years of global experience in a variety of roles within the wire and cable industry.He is a Senior Analyst for CRU’s Wire and Cable division, providing knowledge and expertise on the wire and cable global supply chain, which helps clients better understand, address challenges and opportunities in their markets, and ultimately help make better business decisions.Prior to joining CRU, Joe was a Key Account Manager at Prysmian Group (a leading global wire and cable manufacturer).  He led several cost-reduction and inventory management projects with internal and external stakeholders, and performed an integral role in forecasting and planning for future projects.

Chenfei Wang

Chenfei is Head of CRU's Wire and Cable team, and works across the full portfolio of products analysing key trends and developments in both the metallic wire and cable, and optical fibre industries. He is a Principal Analyst and also the current editors of CRU's Telecom Cables Market Outlook and Optical Fibre and Cable Monitor.

Chenfei joined CRU in early 2019 as an Analyst within the Wire and Cable team. At CRU, Chenfei held various editorship roles including Wire and Cable Market Outlook and HV and EHV Cables Market Outlook. Prior to CRU, Chenfei was working at Rolls-Royce in a variety of engineering leadership roles, with a focus on aeroengine technology development and manufacturing process improvement.

He holds an MSc in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London, and a BEng (Hons) in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Auckland. Chenfei spent 3.5 years in CRU London office and he is now based in CRU Shanghai office.