R.J. O’Brien Hires Ethanol Specialist Jordan Stern

CHICAGO, July 12, 2016 – Chicago-based R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest and largest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, today announced that Jordan Stern has joined the firm as Senior Vice President of Ethanol, operating out of Chicago. Stern will be focused on building out the firm’s futures, swaps and physical brokerage capabilities in ethanol and other biofuels beginning August 1.

Gerald Corcoran, RJO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “RJO will continue to hire talent to expand our swap and physical brokerage capabilities in select energy markets that are key to our growth strategy. Jordan is a veteran in this space, and we are thrilled to establish his role as an anchor for this endeavor.”

Stern said: “RJO is already a well-respected firm in grains and biofuels. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to help the firm provide a comprehensive offering in ethanol.”

Stern joined RJO from SCB Group, a leading interdealer broker that specializes principally in biofuels. He served as co-head of the firm’s ethanol desk, where he was instrumental in helping SCB ascend to a leading position in ethanol futures, ethanol options and physical brokering of ethanol. He is particularly well-known for the role he has played in helping the industry develop the futures and options market for ethanol. Prior to his pioneering work with ethanol, Stern spent nine years as a corn options trader on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade.

About R.J. O’Brien

Founded in 1914, R.J. O’Brien & Associates is the largest independent futures brokerage firm in the United States, serving institutional, commercial and individual clients globally, in addition to a network of 400 introducing brokers (IBs). Clearing more than 80,000 client accounts, RJO services the industry’s most expansive global network of IBs, a vast array of middle market firms and many of the world’s largest financial, industrial and agricultural institutions. The firm offers state-of-the-art electronic trading and 24-hour trade execution on every major futures exchange worldwide.