Ben R. Pollner

Benjamin R. Pollner (born in 1941 in New York) is an American businessman. He is the founder of Taurus Petroleum, based in Geneva, created in 1993, and remains its chairman and chief executive officer.

Benjamin R. Pollner
Born21.05.1941 (age 79–80)
DiedSept. 2018
NationalityUnited States
EducationB.Sc. Wagner College
M.B.A. New York University
Occupationoil trader
Known forfounder of Taurus Petroleum
Spouse(s)Alice Thorpe
ChildrenEdward J. Pollner
Amy P. Moritz
T. Anthony Pollner (deceased)

Early life and education

In 1963, he graduated from Wagner College with a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Between 1965 and 1968 he attended the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Career

Ben Pollner held various positions in industrial companies until joining the Steuber Corporation in 1970 when he commenced his international marketing, transport and trading activities in the bulk petrochemical industry. In the 1990s, he worked for David B. Chalmers Jr at Bayoil Petroleum.[1] Pollner is a member of a small group of top oil and mineral traders who were under the tutelage of one-time fugitive financier Marc Rich.[1]

Oil for Food program

Pollner's company, Taurus Petroleum was responsible for over $4 billion in Oil-for-Food deals with Iraq. Under the program, oil was purchased from Iraq and resold to large refiners in exchange for food.[2] Taurus and Gennady Timchenko and Torbjorn Tornqvist's Gunvor are the main two shareholders of the United States' Castor Group which includes both Castor Americas Incorporated and Castor Petroleum Limited with offices located at rue des Marches in Geneva.[3]

Pollner, through his company Taurus Petroleum, purchased the majority of the oil from two companies in Geneva, Switzerland, Fenar Petroleum and Alcon Petroleum (both registered in Liechtenstein in 1999).[4][5] Fenar and Alcon were among the largest oil purchasers under the Oil-for-Food program exporting a combined $2.47 billion in crude oil.[5] It was alleged that Pollner in fact, either controlled or owned both companies.[1] Fenar and Alcon were alleged to have funneled $18.9 million in kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein, in the form of surcharges on oil purchases. Taurus has denied paying the surcharges.[4][6] In response to the investigation, Pollner stated: "I did nothing in New York or the U.S. that would be considered illegal."[5] Pollner was never indicted.[5] Prior to answering questions from the Southern District of New York in 2004, Pollner moved to Switzerland.[3]

Broker for Ecuadorian oil

Taurus Petroleum also functions as a broker of oil from Ecuador, working in conjunction with PetroChina.[7][8]

Pollner has been a member of the American Petroleum Institute (API), the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) and the European Petrochemical Association.

Philanthropy

Ben Pollner is active in various charitable functions including the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professorship[9] and FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures).[10]

Personal life

He was married to Alice Thorpe. They had three children, Edward J. Pollner (married to Lisa) of Fairfield, Connecticut, Amy P. Moritz (married to Sasha) of New York, NY and T. Anthony Pollner (who died in a motorcycle accident in 2001).[11]

References
  1. BusinessWeek: "The Rich Boys" July 17, 2005
  2. The Daily Beast: "SADDAM'S OILY DEALS" by Mark Hosenball January 23, 2005
  3. Шлейнов, Роман (Shleinov, Roman) (24 August 2009). "Нефтетрейдер «прозрачной воды»" [Oil trader of "clear water"]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. New York Times: "A Rich Man Spurned" By WILLIAM NEUMAN March 12, 2006
  5. Bloomberg: "The Rich Boys" July 17, 2005
  6. ABC News: "Americans' Role Eyed in U.N. Oil Scandal" By BRIAN ROSS and RHONDA SCHWARTZ December 1, 2004
  7. Schneyer, Joshua; Nicolas Medina Mora Perez (November 26, 2013). "A look at the traders behind the China-Ecuador-U.S. oil triangle". Reuters. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  8. "Clever Jimenez attacks with new "petro-complaint"". Human Rights Ecuador. May 15, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  9. "T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professorship | The University of Montana School of Journalism". Jour.umt.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  10. "Finding A Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures (faces)". NYU Langone Medical Center. 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  11. New York Times: "Paid Notice: Deaths POLLNER, T. ANTHONY" May 16, 2001
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