The HC Commodities Podcast Techno-Barbarians at the Gate: AI is coming for your operating model with Eren Zekioglu
Feb 18, 2026
Eren Zekioglu, experienced trader and operations-tech executive from Glencore and Gunvor, explores how AI, digital assets and tokenisation are reshaping trading operating models. He contrasts hedge funds and trading houses, highlights agentic automation versus alpha generation, and outlines rapid shifts in settlement, middle/back office consolidation, and new DeFi-native entrants.
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Episode notes
Hedge Funds Move Faster Than Trading Houses
- Hedge funds structurally adopt AI faster because they're model-first, cleaner-data and culture-ready.
- Physical trading houses face legacy systems, complex stakeholders and slower adoption despite interest.
NOCs Can Leapfrog Legacy Firms
- NOCs and asset-backed entrants can leapfrog incumbents because they start from zero and can build AI-native stacks.
- Their vertical asset footprints let them integrate execution, risk, financing and logistics more easily.
Automate Data Translation And Compliance
- Use AI to translate and accelerate data flows across front, middle and back office to reduce deploy-to-capital time.
- Apply AI to compliance, document processing and freight forecasting to cut errors and decision latency.