General Manager, Electricity Trading

Confidential | Senior Leadership Appointment | China (Shanghai / Xiamen)

About the Company

Our client is a Fortune Global 500 state-owned enterprise and one of China's largest bulk commodity supply chain groups. The Group is a leading trader in aluminium, new energy materials, and energy commodities, with deep relationships across China's most electricity-intensive industrial sectors.

As China's electricity market undergoes historic deregulation, the Group is establishing a new electricity trading business to serve its large industrial client base and participate directly in China's emerging competitive power markets.

The Opportunity

China's electricity market transformation is accelerating. Twenty-nine provincial spot markets are now operational, electricity market transactions reached 4.3 trillion kWh in the first eight months of 2025 alone, and a national unified electricity market is targeted for 2030. The convergence of the electricity and carbon markets is creating significant new commercial opportunities for companies that can bridge both.

This is a pure greenfield mandate. The electricity trading business does not yet exist. The GM will build it: strategy, trading framework, risk management systems, team, and commercial proposition. The Group's existing industrial client relationships provide a strong foundation for market entry.

Responsibilities

• Track, analyse, and interpret domestic power market policies, regulatory frameworks, and market trends. Deliver strategic market intelligence to support business decisions.
• Design and execute the Group's electricity trading strategy. Establish a trading management framework covering all relevant trading products and market mechanisms.
• Build forecasting, analysis, and model optimisation capabilities for electricity trading. Develop a trading decision and risk control framework that ensures performance targets are met and risk is managed within defined limits.
• Build and lead the electricity trading team. Coordinate internal and external resources. Drive business innovation and identify growth opportunities to establish a sustainable electricity trading business.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 12+ years of experience in electricity market operations, power trading, or energy risk management
• Direct, hands-on experience with China's electricity spot markets or power exchange platforms (Beijing Power Exchange, Guangzhou Power Exchange, or equivalent provincial exchanges)
• Quantitative skills: price forecasting, load modelling, hedging strategy, or risk management frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to build a team and a business from early stage
• Understanding of the connection between electricity markets and carbon markets is a strong advantage
• Knowledge of green electricity certificate (GEC) procurement and renewable energy market mechanisms
• Mandarin essential as working language

What Is on Offer

• GM-level mandate to build China's next major industrial electricity trading business from the ground up
• Institutional backing and industrial client access from a Fortune Global 500 company
• Direct relevance to China's most significant energy market transformation in decades
• Location: Shanghai or Xiamen
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience

This is a confidential search. The client's identity will be disclosed to shortlisted candidates only. To express interest or refer a suitable candidate, please contact Spencer Ogden.