After his education and studies of economics he started his professional career with a large chemicals company for which he spent considerable time overseas, including the Far East. Gerd Hoffmann joined Hüttenwerke Kayser AG in 1981 and became head of HK's commercial activities in 1986. He was appointed commercial director in 1991 and became a member of HK's executive board on 1 March 2000.  Since the  amalgamation of HK into Norddeutsche Affinerie AG in early 2004, he is heading all recycling market activities of the group.

He is actively engaged in a number of international copper organizations and is chairman of the Copper Committee of the London Metal Exchange.  In 2004 he was elected to the boards of The London Metal Exchange Limited and LME Holdings Limited.

He is married and has two children.