Staff Changes in Shipping and Logistics Groups This Week

WORLDWIDE – Beginning with a heavyweight change at the top of the freight and logistics sector this week is the news that International Maritime Organization (IMO) General Secretary, Koji Sekimizu, has announced that he will not be seeking reappointment, choosing to end his term at the end of 2015. Mr Sekimizu has decided not to stand for re-election for personal reasons in relation to his wife’s health. Sekimizu started his tenure in the top spot in 2012 with the shipping and maritime industry actively seeking ways to combat piracy, particularly off the coast of Somalia, and finding policies to reduce emissions and have the industry run in a more environmentally friendly way.

Sekimizu has seen through many changes in the sector with increasing the safety standards and better working practices in the shipping industry, as well as seeing attacks from Somali pirates reduced to almost zero, to name but a few.

WORLDWIDE – Dieter Berg of Munich RE has been elected as the new President of the International Union of Marine Insurance. He replaces Ole Wikborg of the Norwegian Hull Club.

EUROPE – The European Federation of Materials Handling has announced that its General Assembly has re-elected Jan van der Velden of Vanderlande Industries, as President for his second two year term – 2014 to 2016. Chistophe Lautray, Chief Sales Officer at Linde Material Handling, was elected as Vice President, and John Meade of Thorworld remains Past President.

UK – Allseas Global Logistics Commercial Manager Mark Binge is to bring his expertise and experience to the table as a key committee member of Felixstowe Port Users’ Association (FPUA). Binge will represent the interests of warehouse keepers and operators on the committee as the Category 4 Representative.

UK – The British logistics industry’s favourite charity Transaid has appointed four new trustees to help govern the organisations growth. Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Commissioner of Transport for London; Jeff Mecaskey, Partner and former Managing Director of Health Partners International; Jo Godsmark, Co-owner and Director of Labyrinth Logistics Consulting; and James Keeler, Director of Garnett Keeler Public Relations, have all joined the board taking the total number of trustees to 16. Transaid has also announced that its Chief Executive Gary Forster has been granted six months unpaid sabbatical leave, which started on August 1.

After eight years at Transaid and three years as Chief Executive, Forster has taken this time off to travel the world and visit many of the countries in which Transaid help. Caroline Barber has been announced to fill the position until February 1, 2015, when Forster will return to the role and Barber will resume as Head of Programmes.

UK – Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has announced the appointments of two new members of senior staff, Andrew Sulston taking up the role as General Manager of Contract Logistics and Consulting (CLC), and Justin Clark, who takes the position of CLC Business Improvement and Project Manager.

UK – APC Overnight has appointed Mike Allison as its new Head of Transport.

GERMANY – The Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Technik AG has appointed Dr. Johannes Bussmann the new Chairman of the Executive Board. Bussmann will take over the position from August Wilhelm Henningsen on April 1, 2015, with Henningsen due to retire in the coming year.

AUSTRALIA – Former CEO of Scott’s Group of Companies, Peter Anderson, has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive for the Victorian Transport Association following Neil Chamber’s departure from the role earlier this week.

SOUTH KOREA – Lee Paik-Hoon has been appointed as Hyundai Merchant Marine’s new co-CEO, in charge of the shipping unit’s internal management and sales, whilst his counterpart co-CEO Lee Seock-Dong takes charge of the firm's external activities.

MALAYSIA – UPS has named Tze Hsien Lim as General Manager of UPS Malaysia.

SINGAPORE – BRAZIL – Alex Imperial has left his role as Director for DNV GL Deepwater Technology Centre in Singapore to take over as the company’s Oil & Gas’s Regional Manager for South America.

BERMUDA – Golar LNG has announced Sir Frank Chapman as Chairman and member of the Board of Directors, effective since September 19.

Photo: IMO General Secretary Koji Sekimizu speaking out.