KPI Appoints Vice CEO and New Managing Director

KPI Bridge Oil, a global broker and trader in marine bunkers, marine lubricants and risk management products, appointed Rob Atkinson as Vice CEO for the group and Jesper Rasmussen as Managing Director for its North American operations.

Rob Atkinson has held a senior position in the company since joining Kristensons-Petroleum, Inc. (KPI) in 1993, latest as Managing Director for KPIBO Americas, and he has been the driving force in the creation and development of KPI as well as the mastermind of the original KPI-Bridge Oil alliance. Rob’s vision and determination has played a central role in the company since1997 when he bought out his former partners and initiated the expansion which made KPI Bridge Oil one of the largest bunker broking and trading houses in the Americas and saw it open offices in Valparaiso, Seattle and Miami and he continues to drive many of the successes in the KPI BO Group today.

Rob has a background in shipping, marine fuel oils and lubricants. Upon graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point in 1984 with a BS in Marine Engineering, Rob joined the Naval Reserve and served as an engineering officer. He joined Advanced Technology, where among other things he became heavily involved in tribology and marine lubricants. He soon followed this discipline, taking a job as a Lubricant Sales Engineer (and ultimately East Coast Sales Manager) for BP Marine Lubricants.

KPI Bridge Oil North America – Jesper Rasmussen

Jesper Rasmussen has been promoted to Managing Director KPI BO North America with responsibility for the Miami, New York and Seattle offices.

Jesper has been working as Sales Director for North America responsible for the New York, Seattle and Miami offices. Prior to this Jesper was based in KPI BO’s London office as Senior Key Account Manager. Jesper has more than 20 years of experience in managing marine sales professionals in the global shipping industry, gained in various locations such as; Greece, U.K., Norway, U.A.E, The Netherlands, Russia and Denmark.