The Weekly Appointments and Departures Start with the News of a Shipping Insurance Stalwart

UK – WORLDWIDE – We start the appointments and departures this week with the sad news of the demise of a stalwart of the UK maritime and logistics insurance industry with the recent death of Peter Lole, who carved out a niche in the industry and was, by all accounts, universally liked by those throughout the shipping sector who had dealings with him.

We make no apologies in publishing one of his anecdotes, written some time ago but explaining for itself the reason for his success in an industry which was, at the time, dealing with a myriad changes with the rapid advance of containerisation and the growth of intercontinental trailer freight. It may also serve as a lesson, not only on how business was done, but how the smallest lead can lead to greater things if one persists. In his own words:

“Around 1969, I was trying to get the business of Lola Cars in Slough. In those days I got most of my business by cold calling. I kept trying because the receptionist was an absolutely gorgeous girl called Angela. She would give me a cup of coffee but advised me that her father, the Company Secretary was unable to see me.

“One day he came into the reception while I was there so I asked him if I could talk to him about Marine Insurance. He was very dismissive and said all these matters were handled by their customer, Carl Haas Auto in the US. I was so fed up with this I wrote to Carl Haas for the sheer hell of it. The outcome was that Carl Haas was scheduled to come to the Racing Car Show at Earls Court and asked to meet me at that time.

“I met him and got the business which I am pleased to say we still have to this day. I always got a Christmas card which caricatured all the principals and staff, and my assistant at the time said that one of them looked like Paul Newman. I was intrigued and enquired and was advised that this was indeed correct and they had another company called Newman Haas Racing.

“Paul Newman was always a keen motor racer. I always got on well with Carl Haas and he invited me to attend the Indie (Indianapolis 500) the year that Nigel Mansell was racing for them. I was free to wander into the pits and sat on the wall, next to Paul Newman who immediately said 'Hi, aren't you the guy who does our insurance.’

“Amazing. I asked a photographer standing nearby to take a picture, after asking Paul first of course, and he readily agreed. My heart sank when I realised the photographer was not American or English but Italian, however I eventually received four slides. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my whole working life.

“While I was there I learned that Paul Newman had a charity called ‘The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp’ which he was hoping to extend into Ireland. To cut a long story short I became a Director of the Irish arm and it was from this that I eventually secured a large portfolio of Business in Ireland. I could go on but I will not bore you.”

UK – ShipServ has appointed Henrik Hyldahn as its new CEO, effective since January 1. Former CEO, Kim Skaarup will join the board as Vice Chairman. Hyldahn was previously ShipServ’s Chief Solutions Officer.

UK – Dino Rocos, former Operations Director at John Lewis Partnership, has been named to join Clipper Logistics as an Independent non-Executive Director, effective since January 1. He is a member of the Nomination, Remuneration and Audit Committees.

Mike Russell, current Independent Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman, will retire from Clipper on February 28, having served for nine years on the Board of Clipper and its former parent company.

Additionally, Clipper announced that on January 1, Stephen Robertson, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, became Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

UK – Pattonair has announced the appointments of Kieran Murphy and Martin Cole to the newly created positions of Innovation Manager at the company’s Derby headquarters. Both will report to Jason Rance, Pattonair's Global Innovation Director.

DENMARK – AP Moller Maersk has announced changes to its Executive Board by appointing Vincent Clerc as CEO of Ocean and Logistics, effective since December 17, and Henriette Hallberg Thygesen as CEO of Towage, Manufacturing & Others, who joined the Executive Board on January 1.

SWEDEN – Nils Jaeger, currently President Region EMEA, Volvo Financial Services, has been appointed President of the new Volvo Group business area Volvo Autonomous Solutions. He will report to the Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt and be a member of the Group management team.

AUSTRIA – As of the beginning of 2020, Lothar Thoma assumes responsibility for the Air & Sea division of Gebrüder Weiss. His predecessor, Heinz Senger-Weiss, resigned from his executive function on the Management Board of Gebrüder Weiss with effect from the turn of the year

NETHERLANDS – Damco, has appointed Naomi Landman as Head of Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Network Strategy to drive growth in 2020.

SPAIN – International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced that Willie Walsh has decided to retire as Chief Executive. He will stand down from the role and from the Board of IAG on 26 March 2020 and will retire on 30 June 2020. Luis Gallego, currently Iberia chief executive, will succeed

US – The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that Sandra Kusumoto, Director, Bureau of Certification and Licensing, retired on December 31, 2019, after 36 years of service to the Commission. Additionally, Tyler Wood departed his post as General Counsel on January 3, taking up a new position with the Department of Justice.

The FMC has appointed Clifford Johnson to serve as Acting Director, Bureau of Certification and Licensing, effective January 1, and William Shakely to serve as Acting General Counsel, effective January 5.

US – Following the announcement from UPS and Marken announcing that Wes Wheeler has been appointed President of UPS's global Healthcare and Life Sciences (HCLS) unit, Marken, a UPS company, has named Ariette van Strien, previously the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, as its new President.

US – Fidelis Group Holdings, a provider of marine insurance coverage and services has announced three promotions in its claims division. Christian Kelly has been named Head of Claims. Kelly previously served as Senior Director of the Claims division. Mark Taylor, who previously served as Senior Claims Manager, has been named Senior Director of Marine Liability Claims. Dustin Goodwin, who previously served as Claims Director, has been named Senior Director of Hull and Machinery Claims.

US – Northop Grumman has expanded the responsibilities of Lesley Kalan, Corporate Vice President of Government Relations, to now include the role of Chief Strategy and Development Officer, effective since January 1. Kalan will continue to report to Kathy Warden, Chair, CEO and President, Northrop Grumman.

US – Chapman Freeborn has appointed Norris Hiraki as its new Cargo Sales Director, North America.

CANADA – Carl Delisle has been appointed as the new Vice President of Logistics, expanding his current responsibilities as Corporate Controller of LOGISTEC. He reports to Chief Financial Officer, Jean-Claude Dugas, effective since January 1.

HONG KONG – DHL Express has announced the appointment of Chee Choong Ng as Managing Director of DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau. He succeeds Herbert Vongpusanachai, who is now Country Manager of DHL Express Thailand and Head of Indochina.

Photo: Peter Lole shares a joke with Paul Newman at the Indianapolis 500.