World’s largest supplier of bunker fuel Bunker Holding Group on Wednesday (22 November) said it has appointed CIO Morten Gade Christensen as the firm’s new chief information officer.

Bunker Holding Group’s new CIO is going to expand on the external customer-oriented solutions aimed at the rising digital needs of the bunker industry. He supersedes the former CIO Peer Omann and will start with Bunker Holding Group from 1 December.

”For the past seven years, Peer Omann has done an outstanding job establishing a solid and professional IT foundation for Bunker Holding. Now we are looking to expand on this, building customer-focused solutions supporting our strategy of Fueling the Future. For this job we are incredibly pleased to have been able to bring Morten Gade Christensen on board and are looking forward to working with him,” Michael Krabbe, CFO of Bunker Holding, said. 

Morten Gade Christensen holds a master’s degree in finance from the London Business School and has a background in computer science. For the past more than 20 years he has held multiple board roles as well as numerous positions as CIO at among others LM Wind Power, Energinet, and Bankdata, at which point Morten Gade Christensen was awarded European CIO of the year. The new CIO now transitions to Bunker Holding Group from a role as COO and CTO at Cardlay. 

During his stint, Peer Omann and his clear approach to systems has delivered sound achievements in developing the Group’s IT organisation to a professional organisation standing on a strong foundation. Some of the highlights in his major achievements are stabilising the Group’s infrastructure, significantly upgrading cyber security, transitioning ERP from Navision to Business Central and successfully introducing a new CRM platform. 

“For me it has been seven fantastic years in Bunker Holding IT, and it is now time to look outside of Bunker Holding for my next challenge. It has been a truly exciting journey working within the bunker business, and I am proud of what we have achieved in IT,” Peer Omann, said. 

Moving forward, Bunker Holding Group is using this groundwork to set the agenda for years to come on the digital needs of the bunker industry. This includes strong reporting solutions and meeting expectations for certifications, pricing, delivery, and transparent financing. 

“Having at previous times worked with both finance and energy, this cross-section is very exciting and I’m looking forward to becoming a part of Bunker Holding Group, creating an impact with solutions suiting the needs of the bunker industry and the clients operating here,” Morten Gade Christensen, CIO of Bunker Holding Group, said. 

Photo credit: Bunker Holding Group
Published: 23 November, 2023

Marine fuels testing company VPS on Tuesday (3 October) announced the appointment of Andrew Morton to the role of Managing Director AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa).

In this role, Andrew will apply his experience and knowledge to lead the delivery of VPS services to these important and growing regions. He joins VPS having spent the last 17 years working in the oil and gas industry, most recently with TotalEnergies in various positions and countries. 

These included technical, commercial, management, mergers and acquisitions and most recently the New Energies space, including renewable energy, biogas and fuels, hydrogen and LNG. He has a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and started his career in research and development in the lubricants industry for Fuchs.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated “We are delighted to welcome Andrew on board as our MD AMEA. His background and experience will be helpful in supporting our customers in these important Regions, particularly in the rapidly developing decarbonisation space.”

Andrew Morton, said: “I am delighted to join VPS and the team and take over the role of Managing Director - Asia, Middle East and Africa. It is a privilege to join the global market leader and to manage a zone where the maritime industry is growing. I look forward to working with the various companies and associations across the industry to help them with their decarbonisation journey.”

VPS also announced that Captain Rahul Choudhuri has been appointed to the newly created role of President Strategic Partnerships. In this role, Rahul will use his network to enhance and further develop relationships with customers and operators from across the shipping ecosystem to help VPS support their decarbonisation journey.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, VPS CEO, stated “Captain Rahul is well-known across the Maritime sector and he has been the figurehead for VPS Asia and the Middle East for many years. He has been instrumental in many developments within VPS and across the shipping industry, making significant contributions to developments through a wide range of Committees and organisations.”

“His new role will enable him to focus more on our external relationships, which are of growing importance as we aim to support the shipping sector on it’s decarbonisation journey. We in VPS are very proud of Rahul’s achievements to date and we know there will be more to come.”

Rahul, said: “I am looking forward to this new opportunity. This role will allow me to use my experience and close relationships to strengthen, build and develop the industry partnerships needed to deliver new decarbonisation solutions offered by VPS. My work with industry associations allows a greater professional engagement with stakeholders to take the industry forward in challenging times”.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 4 October, 2023

Global marine energy solutions provider KPI OceanConnect on Thursday (28 September) announced the appointment of Melvin Lum as Commercial Director for its Global Accounts team in Singapore.

Lum will take on the position of Commercial Director from Thomas Lee who was recently promoted to Head of APAC in a management restructure within KPI OceanConnect. 

The Global Accounts team is an expert unit within KPI OceanConnect, specialised in providing long-term, tailored fuel strategy solutions to a portfolio of Key Accounts on a global scale. Dedicated regional teams located in London, Houston and Singapore work seamlessly across the world and around the clock to support their clients.

Lum joined KPI OceanConnect in 2021 as Senior Key Account manager and has made a significant contribution to the development of the team and optimisation of the daily operations of the unit in Singapore. Lum has vast experience across the supply chain and previously worked with TotalEnergies, Glencore and Global Energy Group prior to joining KPI OceanConnect.

Henrik Zederkof, Head of Global Accounts at KPI OceanConnect, said: "It is always a pleasure to witness the growth of our team members, and Melvin's progression is no exception. I have full confidence in Melvin's expertise, ability to lead the unit and dedication to his team. I look forward to seeing the progress of Melvin and his team, which will undoubtedly bring significant value to our numerous partners and the wider organisation.”

"Melvin will assume a pivotal role within the Global Accounts management team, leveraging his extensive experience in supply chain management and profound insight into emerging technologies. In his new role, Melvin will further enhance our team's skill set, aligning them with our ongoing objectives of supporting our partners in their green transition and digitalisation endeavours."

Melvin Lum, Commercial Director of KPI OceanConnect Global Accounts in Singapore, said: "I am very appreciative of the support and confidence from our management team as I take on this exciting new role. I am enthusiastic to work with the team as we continue to deliver an exceptional experience to our partners and stakeholders with dedication, innovation and passion."

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect 
Published: 29 September, 2023