Chief Commercial Officer
Sunoil Group is a leading international biofuel producer, intent on supporting affordable decarbonization in transportation and heat generation. In this new growth phase, the Commercial Director leads the strategic business development by optimizing the commercial organization and trading operations, growing sales in existing and new segments, and seizing opportunities to innovate.
About Sunoil Group
Founded in 2006, Sunoil Group quickly became a leading producer of high-grade sustainable biodiesel from waste oils and fats in the Netherlands. The company was in prime position to commercialize its products when the European Renewable Energy Directive took effect in 2009, obliging fuel suppliers like BP and Shell to blend biodiesel or ethanol with fossil fuels. Sunoil’s second-generation biodiesel reduces CO2 emissions by 90% compared to conventional diesel, providing a sustainable and affordable fuel alternative for transportation and heat generation.
In 2020-2021, two legal and compliance disputes impacted Sunoil Group’s business and certification. The company took prompt countermeasures to ensure its customers and employees would remain protected, assuring operational continuity by ringfencing the impacted entity. To reinstate certification and safeguard optimal future compliance of its suppliers and procedures, Sunoil Group has doubled down on automation, quality checks, safety checks, and optimized sustainability processes. The company’s investment in its facilities and people allowed Sunoil Group to not only maintain its position in the top 4 biofuel players but has also generated additional capacity and capabilities to accelerate the group’s growth in existing and new customer segments.
Sunoil Group has a production facility in Kampen with direct access to a harbor, ensuring high logistic efficiency and flexibility, and a production facility in Emmen with a state-of-the-art logistics center handling a hundred transactions every day. The company’s in-house lab and R&D ensure ongoing innovation. Combined with its trading office in Amsterdam, the company employs over 60 FTEs and works with a network of external experts and partners to supply its high-grade biodiesel through direct sales channels to customers in the Netherlands, continental Europe, and the UK.
Requirements*
- Over 15 years of experience
- In the biofuel, oil and gas, or (renewable) energy industry
- Experienced commercial leader
- With a robust background in trading, hedging, and risk management
- And experience in marketing, market intelligence, and customer segmentation
- English fluency and proficient level of Dutch
Research shows that while male candidates feel confident enough to apply when they meet about 60% of the requirements, female candidates only apply when they tick every box. So if this role has your name on it, but you’re not sure about the criteria, we still want to hear from you.
We have invested in our assets, quality, assurance, and staff and are set up to scale the organization. To do so, Sunoil Group needs a Chief Commercial Officer with a strong commercial track record in growing businesses and developing new segments.
Chief Commercial Officer
Sunoil Group has built a strong position in the fast-evolving and growing global biofuels market. The Chief Commercial Officer is the commercial captain and vital decision-maker who capitalizes on those market opportunities and threats. They drive the long-term strategy of the socially involved and environmentally aware organization, keen to build on Sunoil Group’s top position and experience, highquality portfolio, and motivated team. The Chief Commercial Officer reports to owner Wilfred Hadders and is part of the Group Leadership Team, together with the Director of Finance and the Director of Operations and Compliance. The Chief Commercial Officer provides strategic insights, drives actionable commercial growth plans, and ensures Sunoil Group steps into the right opportunities at the right time while navigating complex commercial challenges. Their deep understanding of the market trends and development translates into a strategic vision for the company. Together with partners and external stakeholders, the Chief Commercial Officer drives business development in existing markets, such as expanding the transportation portfolio into aviation and shipping, and develops new segments like heating, chemicals, and co-processing. To drive profitability, they explore and implement innovative trading approaches, product-market combinations, and product improvements.
The Chief Commercial Officer achieves maximum impact by fostering collaboration and ensuring seamless coordination between the commercial and operational activities. To do so, they work closely with teams in Finance, Supply Chain, Sustainability, and Production across facilities. They lead their team consisting of a Commercial Manager, Trading Analyst and Business Developer, Trader, and Innovation Manager. As the Chief Commercial Officer develops the business, they continue to build the sales, trading, and marketing capabilities of their team.
This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned commercial leader in the biofuel or energy sector capable of navigating the complex and competitive industry landscape and dealing with strong compliance and regulatory requirements. The Chief Commercial Officer translates deep market insights into new business through structured and data-driven decision-making, networking, and collaboration. They thrive in a fastpaced sales dynamic. Their business and financial acumen combined with their expertise in hedging and risk management help them realize Sunoil Group’s growth plans in production and in trading.
More information?
Curious if this role is right for you? View the full job profile for more details about the responsibilities, the team, and what we're looking for in a candidate.
This position has been filled
We have successfully filled this vacancy. Are you interested in similar positions or want to learn more about our executive search services? Feel free to contact us. We'd be happy to help you think about your next career move or filling a key position within your organization.
Do you have questions about this vacancy or would you like more information about the application process? We'll personally guide you through the entire process.
