Flex LNG has appointed its serving chief financial officer Oystein Kalleklev as its new chief executive following the departure of CEO Jon Cook in May.
Kalleklev, who has been with John Fredriksen's gas vehicle since October, will also continue to serve as CFO until a replacement is found, Flex said.
Flex also said that former Golar LNG chartering chief Marius Foss joined the company today as its new head of commercial.
Speaking to TradeWinds Kalleklev said his first priority is "to start making a profit" on the company's vessels.
He sees 2018 as something of a "transition year" for LNG shipping but says he is anticipating a tightening of the market in the second half and into next year.
Flex currently controls a fleet of eight LNG carriers, four of which are on the water with the remaining under-construction newbuildings due for delivery in 2019-2020.
Of the four trading ships two are employed on contracts of up to 18 months with the other pair currently open.
"Our aim is to grow Flex LNG," he said. "We are not planning to stay as a company with eight vessels."
Kalleklev, who studied business administration and finance at university, joined Flex in October last year from Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers where he had been working as CFO since 2013.
He also served as chairman of the general partner for the MLP KNOT Offshore Partners from 2015.
Previously Kalleklev has worked for industrial investment company Umoe Group, Clarksons Platou’s investment banking arm and global management consultants Accenture.
