Fumihiko Shimizu is to join insurance giant Thomas Miller as president of its business in Japan.
The insurance and investment services provider established Thomas Miller KK (TMKK) last year in Japan’s shipowning centres of Tokyo and Imabari, as TradeWinds reported.
Shimizu joins from NYK Line, where he has held various roles in insurance, claims and commercial management, including a stint in London.
He was previously a director of International Car Operators, which is a part of NYK Group Europe and oversees the handling and storage of ro-ro cargoes at its port terminals.
Shimizu will concentrate on TMKK's operations in Japan, especially by building on and promoting its correspondency and service management areas, which were set up last year.
'Unwavering commitment'
Paul Sessions, Thomas Miller's regional director for Japan, said the new hire will help the firm support the UK P&I Club in its "unwavering commitment" to the Japanese shipping market.
"Fumihiko Shimizu’s experience means he is ideally suited to lead TMKK and we are confident his expertise and industry knowledge will help us to reach a broader base with Japanese shipowners and operators, building on the Club’s substantial membership in Japan," Sessions said.
Shimizu said he was looking forward to joining the insurance firm.
“These are challenging times for shipowners around the world; however, I look forward to leading the teams in Tokyo and Imabari in servicing the UK Club and its members and making a positive difference to the Club’s relationships with Japanese shipowners," he said.
He will work closely with Masaki Oiwa, the UK P&I Club's representative of the Japan Branch, as well as Sessions, who is responsible for servicing the Club’s Japanese business globally.
When the TMKK team was established in September 2019, it initially included three claims directors, plus loss prevention executive Hiroshi Sekine.
