London-listed shipbroker Braemar is concentrating on bringing through the next generation of leaders after two high-profile departures.
TradeWinds reported on Thursday that global head of tankers David Collins had left the company two weeks after the resignation of Nick Edwards, the other senior name on the deepsea tankers desk.
Chief executive James Gundy has stepped in to run the desk.
Chief operating officer Tris Simmonds told TradeWinds the London shop wants to pave the way for the next 10 years and provide career progression for all its brokers.
“We see the importance of empowering all of our brokers so they can lead us as the shipping market evolves,” he said.
“Our new business heads are young dynamic brokers with clear objectives,” Simmonds added.
He noted that over the past five years, there have been several new desk leaders put in place.
“We have clear senior brokers who are our next generation of business leaders,” he said.
Ed Molyneux took over offshore, while Pat Donnelly became the new head of wet forward freight agreements.
Two new heads of sale and purchase were appointed in the shape of David Holland and Dimitris Kyrtsos after Sebastian Davenport-Thomas left last year.
There are also new bosses at the corporate finance division — Sebastian Kewitsch, Hannes Wunder and Florian Meyenburg.
In addition, there is a new chief financial officer, Grant Foley, in place, while chairman Nigel Payne joined in 2021.
Headcount rising
Braemar has cleared out legacy businesses in consulting and logistics in recent years.
Coverage has been increased in areas where the company’s expertise lies, Simmonds said.
“We have doubled profits in half the time we said we would and have just ended another successful year for Braemar,” he added.
Well-known VLCC broker Collins told TradeWinds that the decision to leave was tough, but the right one.
He added that he leaves Braemar on good terms.
Braemar has been expanding globally under Gundy’s leadership.
The company formed Madrid Shipping Advisors in Spain after bringing in 10 tanker brokers from Spain’s Medco Shipbrokers.
The operation, led by Lalo Pacheco and Luis Bernar, now numbers 13 people.
New bases in Athens and Geneva added 22 people to the team, while the Dubai office has been expanded to 14 staff, and Houston to 12.
Brokerage Southport Maritime was also acquired, with a team of 17.
The London securities operation has grown from six brokers covering two products to more than 30, with more brokers in Dubai and Singapore covering more than 10 products.
