Glasenberg, a workaholic, straight-talking South African who has become the public face of the commodity trading industry, has led Glencore for nearly two decades together with a small group of top traders.
"Do I think it will change with me leaving? I don't think so," Glasenberg said.
Major shareholders
The eventual leadership change also presents another risk. Glasenberg is Glencore's second-largest shareholder, and Mistakidis its sixth-largest, according to Bloomberg data. Together, Glencore's management, who listed the commodity trader in 2011, still own about 30% of the shares.
The stock has plunged 23% this year, underperforming the broader FTSE 350 Mining Index.
PREMIUM: Glencore gambles in Venezuela, Nigeria, Congo. FT asks: Has Ivan Glasenberg gone too far?
"I don't think there'll be an overhang," Glasenberg said of the departing executives. He said that he wouldn't sell any shares while at Glencore or within a three-year period of leaving.
Whoever takes over the reins should be about 45 years old at the time of the succession, Glasenberg said, implying that none of the top traders who took the company public are likely to be chosen successor.
"I've got my eye on a few guys. There's three to four guys who could potentially be there," he said. "Do I see any woman in that pack today? No."
"In three to four years, there may be a woman in that pack," he added.