Meet the Team
Cedar Petrochemicals team is assembled of the top and elite employees in the related fields. They all have shown worthy of their position based upon their experience, expertise and devotion.
Salim Harfouche
Founder & CEO
Salim began his career with Mobil Oil in Lebanon where he was in charge of importing bulk petrochemicals through Mobil’s worldwide distribution network.
In 1989, he moved to the United States and began his trading career specializing in cumene, phenol, and aromatics.
In the last decade he developed his trading skills to include all major bulk commodity petrochemicals.
He founded Cedar Petrochemicals, Inc. in 2000 to market petrochemicals and products worldwide.
Salim graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1982 with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering.
Jennifer Marchi
International Product Manager
Jennifer joined Cedar in 2003 as the assistant to the CEO and has subsequently advanced to the role of International Product Manager. As IPM, Jennifer specializes in a variety of petrochemicals such as Oxo alcohols, Benzene derivatives including Cyclohexane, Bisphenol-A, among others.
Jennifer earned her BBA in Finance and Investments from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.
Bill Sparke
CFO
As CFO, Bill is responsible for trade finance and all accounting functions at Cedar Petrochemicals, Inc. Prior to joining Cedar, Bill spent the first 5 years of his career working for Predictive Systems Inc., a network consulting firm, where he held several different positions during his career and left as the Director of Revenue. Bill later took a position in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s, where Cedar was an audit client of his for three years. It was during this time that Bill developed and avid interest in the Petrochemical Industry and ultimately joined Cedar Petrochemicals Inc. as the Corporate Controller in April of 2006. Bill Sparke graduated from Binghamton University in 1998 with a BS in accountancy, and is a licensed CPA in the state of New York.
Charlene Silva
Manager Operations and Logistics
Charlene joined Cedar in early 2002, bringing over 20 years of experience in logistics and operations to Cedar. In her current role, Charlene is responsible for worldwide logistics related to Cedar’s business activities. Prior to joining Cedar, Charlene worked as a logistics coordinator for 7 years at Czarnikow-Rionda Trading / Brokerage Co., Inc. and later at ICC Chemical Corporation where she spent 9 years as International and Domestic Traffic Coordinator. Prior to joining Cedar, Charlene was most recently a Traffic Manager for Velco Chemicals, Inc.
Peter Koejris-Andersen
Credit and Documentation Manager
Prior to joining Cedar in 2008, Peter had accumulated in excess of 30 years of experience.
He started his career at the Maersk Line head quarters in Copenhagen, where he gained extensive experience in all forms of shipping – break bulk, containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk etc.
While working with Maersk Line, he also completed a one year night course in Maritime Law as well as in other topics relevant to the marine industry. He subsequently attended courses in London to stay up to date on subjects like charter party disputes, rules and regulations governing bills of lading, et al. He has held management positions with time charter vessel operators, freight forwarders, a trading company in Warsaw, Poland, a financing company as well as a chemical/polymer trading company.
In addition to shipping, he has an extensive background in international import/export financing, dealing face to face with banks internationally, trading various products by various means of financing – particularly letters of credit.