People & Company News
NOL Announces New President & CEO
Neptune Orient Lines Limited said that Dr. Thomas Held has stepped down from the position of Group President and CEO, and that Ronald Widdows has been appointed as the new Group President and CEO. Dr. Held has also resigned from, and Widdows has been appointed a member of, the NOL Board of Directors. The changes have immediate effect. Widdows is currently the CEO of NOL's container shipping business APL, and has held this position since 2003. "The Board of Directors feels that this is the right time for a change in the stewardship of the NOL Group, as it positions to grow in container shipping amidst the challenges of a cyclical industry sector, a slowing world economy and a tougher cost environment," said Cheng Wai Keung, NOL Chairman. "Ron Widdows is the right person to lead the company forward at this time." Ronald Dean Widdows has been a key member of NOL's senior management team since the merger with APL in 1997. He was appointed CEP of the APL Liner business in January 2003, with responsibility for its commercial and global operations. NOL has achieved record financial performance during his tenure as CEO of APL. Widdows' 37-year career has tracked the development of the container shipping industry, from its initial focus on pure port-to-port services to today's endto-end supply chain management. He has played a key role in implementing some of the most innovative developments in the container shipping industry. Widdows is a member of the Board of Directors of both the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore and the World Shipping Council. Since 2006, he has been the Chairman of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement research and discussion group. He was recently named to the Advisory Board of the US Merchant Marine Academy Kingspoint. Widdows is also on the Advisory Board of the International Transport Forum, a forum for Transport Ministries from around the world, based in Europe. midstream/pipeline sectors. Fanning earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1985 and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1994. Fort Lauderdale office. Sauleau was recently the executive vice president of operations at Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where he played an integral role in the expansion of its fleet, overseeing construction of new vessels.
Newbold in Entrepreneur Finals
The Chairman and founder of Strategic Marine, a Western Australian shipbuilder, has been selected for the national finals of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Sydney in November this year. Mark Newbold, who qualified for the finals after winning the western region's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the products category, established Strategic Marine in 2001 with the goal of launching a global shipbuilding company. His company now employs around 1,800 staff at its shipyards in Singapore, Vietnam, Mexico and Western Australia, and has signed more than 120 orders worth over $230m in the past year alone. "It is personally gratifying to win this award," said Mr Newbold.
Marie Named "Honorary Frogman"
Fanning Joins Tidewater Senior Management
Tidewater said that Quinn P. Fanning has joined Tidewater as Executive Vice President, reporting to Chairman, President and CEO Dean Taylor and is expected to assume the duties of Chief Financial Officer of Tidewater upon the retirement of J. Keith Lousteau, which as previously announced, is anticipated on September 30, 2008. Fanning joins Tidewater following more than 20 years within the financial services industry. Most recently, Fanning was a Managing Director with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., which he joined in 1996. In his 12year investment banking career, he primarily focused on the energy industry, particularly the oilfield services and
J.J. Marie, ADM Bonelli, and Jack Lynch, UDT-SEAL Association President
Sauleau Joins Silversea
Christian Sauleau has rejoined Silversea Cruises as executive vice president of fleet operations, overseeing marine, technical, hotel, crewing, entertainment and land programs. He reports to the company's CEO, Amerigo Perasso. Sauleau will be based in the
On July 19, 2008, Zodiac of North America, Inc. President and CEO, J.J. Marie, became the newest SEAL in the United States Navy. Rear Admiral Garry J. Bonelli, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, presented Marie the certificate during the East Coast SEAL Reunion Breakfast/Business Meeting at the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek. Only 175 people have been named "Honorary SEALs" in nearly 50 years. Marie received a standing ovation from the 200-plus in attendance for his ardent support of the Naval Special Warfare community.
GPA Opens European Subsidiary
Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA), headquartered in Seattle, has established a European subsidiary Guido Perla Europe GmbH (GPE GmbH) - in Germany. GPE GmbH will initially handle the sales, marketing and PR function, as well as existing customer support. "The strategic decision to further expand GPA into Europe supports our vision of being a truly global player," said Inga Scholz, General Manager of GPE GmbH. "Europe accounts for a major share in the maritime industry and we believe it to be vital for us to have a direct presence in such a key market." Since its foundation in 1979, GPA has provided a full range of services to include Conceptual and Preliminary Design, Bid Packages and Regulatory Design, Scientific/Engineering Analysis, Feasibility Studies, Production Engineering, Construction Management and Owner Representation, as well as Expert Witness Services. While GPA's clientele is mainly U.S.-based, the company also enjoys a loyal customer base in the Asian, South American and European maritime market. GPA's extensive portfolio includes vessel types ranging from Platform Support Vessels (PSV), Fast Supply Vessels (FSV), Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTS), CNG Carriers, Tugs, Barges, Icebreakers, Cargo Vessels, Fast Pilot Boats, Ferries, Research Vessels, Fireboats, Navy Vessels, Fishing Vessels, Yachts, Excursion-, Cruise-, and Casino Vessels. During the recent expansion in the offshore industry, GPA has, with about 140 GPA-designed vessels already or within the next three years serving the offshore industry, established the position as the global leader in the design of Next Generation Platform Support Vessels. GPA has become well-known as a result of contracts with leading offshore industry players such as French Marine Services Provider Groupe Bourbon, Rigdon Marine, Trico Marine, and Tidewater. GPA's offshore designs include the award-winning GPA 654 PSV, several versions of the GPA 670 PSV, the GPA 640 PSV, the GPA 254L AHTS, the recently ordered GPA 696 IMR, and several other designs. "We are proud to be associated with European key players such as Groupe
Perla
Scholz
Bourbon, considering them as one of our most prominent customers," says Guido Perla, owner of GPA, GPA Shanghai and GPE GmbH, "and we are excited about further exploring the opportunities in the European market. Guido Perla Europe GmbH are located at: Westerwaldstrasse 1, 56335 Neuhaeusel (by Koblenz), Germany; Phone: +1 (206) 774 8274/+49 (2620) 954987, Fax: +49 (2620) 954988; Email: gpaEurope@gpai.com; Website: www.gpai.com
August 2008
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