Three of Maersk Broker Bulk Chartering (MBBC)’s handysize brokers in Singapore have joined rival Simpson Spence Young (SSY), and other brokers have left the Danish shop in Copenhagen and Hong Kong.
Tom Liu, director at MBBC Asia, chartering manager Dillon Lee and trainee broker Reuben Teong are all joining SSY in the Lion City. Teong has started work already.
Stanko Jekov, SSY’s global head of dry cargo and incoming group chairman, confirmed the new hires when approached by TradeWinds.
“We’re pleased to confirm that Tom Liu will be joining us to manage our handysize team in Singapore. He will be joined by two others from the Maersk team,” Jekov said.
“Up until now, our Singapore team has been mainly focused on supramax, panamax and capesize markets, so this new team will be an important addition to the department, which we continue to grow and expand.”
Rupert Puels appears to have departed as director of MBBC in Hong Kong. He joined the firm in 2019 from Danish broker Wonsild.
Nobody was available to answer TradeWinds’ calls to Maersk Broker Hong Kong. Puels’ mobile phone number listed on the Maersk website goes straight to voicemail.
Claus Plougmand, chief executive of Maersk Broker Asia, told TradeWinds that the firm does not comment on specific staffing issues but is on the lookout for new recruits.
“We remain fully committed to the growth strategy which our global MBBC activities have successfully executed upon for a number of years, and we are always open for conversation with qualified brokers who wish to be part of this journey,” he said.
Meanwhile, there has been a shake-up in the C-suite at MBBC’s base in Copenhagen.
Frank Mortensen confirmed that he has departed as chief executive of MBBC by agreement with his chairman. “No drama from my side,” Mortensen told TradeWinds.
Claus Busk Stahl has stepped down as vice-president of chartering at MBBC. His LinkedIn profile says he is currently employed by an unidentified “Copenhagen Shipping Company”.
His brother, Thomas Busk Stahl, has also left MBBC, destination unknown.
Maersk Broker group chief executive Anders Hald did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
