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 will be responsible for expanding our penetration in this area during what is expected to be a very challenging period.”

Grove has previously served as President of the Americas Division of ABS and, prior to that, as Vice President Western Europe, based in London.

Mark McGrath will be promoted to replace Grove as President and COO of the Pacific Division of ABS, located at the Divisional headquarters in Singapore. McGrath has been serving as Senior Vice President Operations for the Pacific Division. Previous appointments have included Vice President Northern Pacific Region, Country Manager, Korea and Country Manager, Philippines.

Taking over from McGrath as Senior Vice President Operations, will be Eric Kleess, currently Vice President Northern Pacific Region. Kleess will move to Singapore from the Regional headquarters in Korea. Replacing Kleess will be Stephen Auger who will move to Korea from Qatar where he is currently serving as Vice President, Middle East Region within ABS Europe. Auger has experience in Asia having served as Country Manager, Taiwan prior to moving to the Middle East.

Rick Pride, ABS Country Manager, Denmark, will be promoted to Regional Vice President Middle East to replace Auger and he, in turn, will be replaced by Brad Achorn who will move from his current position as Country Manager, Malaysia.

Christopher Perrocco, currently Principal Surveyor, Abu Dhabi, is to be promoted to Country Manager, Malaysia and will move to Kuala Lumpur to take on this new assignment.

Steve Hryshchyshyn will be promoted to the newly created position of Vice President, Quality. Hryshchyshyn previously served as Quality Manager for the society before taking on his current position as Country Manager, Taiwan. He will move to Houston to take on these new responsibilities. Mark Corsetti, currently Principal Surveyor in Charge, Shanghai, is to be promoted to Country Manager, Taiwan to replace Hryshchyshyn in this important shipbuilding and shipowning center.

Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

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