ABS Forms Greater China Operating Division
ABS announced a major organizational change with the creation of a fifth operating division that will be responsible for the society’s activities in The People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan. The reorganization takes effect 15 October. The Divisional Headquarters will be located in Shanghai where ABS already maintains a large engineering, survey and administrative office. Adam Moilanen has been appointed President of the new ABS Greater China Division. The existing China, Hong Kong and Taiwan senior management teams remain in place and will form the nucleus of the new divisional executive team. The new division, which has been carved out of the existing ABS Pacific Division…
ABS New Management in Europe, Asia
Effective 1 July, ABS will introduce new senior management in its Europe and Pacific divisions. At that time, William J. Sember, currently President and COO, ABS Europe Ltd, based in London, will return to Houston as Vice President Global Marketing, responsible for further developing client relations in all sectors. Todd Grove, President and COO of the Pacific Division of ABS will move from Singapore to London, assuming the position of President and COO, ABS Europe Ltd. “Europe remains the center of our shipowner client activity,” said ABS Chairman and CEO Robert D. Somerville. Grove has previously served as President of the Americas Division of ABS and, prior to that, as Vice President Western Europe, based in London.
ABS Repositions UK Country Management
ABS has relocated the center of the class society’s survey and administrative activities for the United Kingdom from London to Newcastle. ABS Country Manager for the UK, Colin Brookman, has moved to the existing ABS office in the north eastern city. “With management of our UK activities in Newcastle, an expansion of our Glasgow office, and London as our Divisional headquarters, we will be better positioned to meet the needs of all of our UK-based clients,” said William J. Sember, President and COO of the European Division of ABS. Sember, noting the resurgence of Newcastle and Glasgow as major shipping centers, also announced the relocation of District Principal Surveyor UK/Ireland, Steve Watts, from London to Glasgow to increase ABS representation in the important ship management center.
ABS Appoints New Divisional Lead Surveyors
In a move designed to further strengthen its field survey staff, ABS has created a new divisional lead surveyor position in each of the classification society’s Divisional headquarters, serving the Americas, Europe and the Pacific region. Frank Drake, a 26- year-veteran of ABS, has been appointed ABS Americas Divisional Lead Surveyor. His vast field experience, combined with his most recent assignment to ABS Consulting’s SafeHull Condition Assessment Program or CAP, positions him to oversee and provide support to the more than 180 ABS field surveyors assigned to ports in the US, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America. Drake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering and Technology from Mississippi State University.
ABS Opens Engineering Office in Istanbul
ABS has opened a new engineering department at its regional headquarters in Istanbul. “ABS is committed to providing the most responsive service to its clients,” says ABS Europe Vice President, Engineering Kirsi Tikka. ABS Engineer Simon Burthem will lead Istanbul’s engineering review and approval activities. He will relocate to Istanbul from the ABS Divisional headquarters in London to head up the new engineering department. His team will support clients with engineering project management and provide design plan reviews and approvals-in-principle, and will conduct engineering review of proposed major repairs or conversions of existing vessels in the region’s shipyards as required.
