SSY’s global network of capesize chartering desks has expanded with the hire of Jack Katzler, who will head up the Middle East business starting in January.
Katzler has worked for rival shipbroker Braemar since 2019, most recently heading up the firm’s dry cargo division in Singapore.
The hire marks a return to SSY for Katzler, who began his career there in 2013, spending five years in London and Singapore.
He will be based in Singapore initially, before moving to Dubai in July next year.
Stanko Jekov, SSY’s managing partner, said he is “delighted that Jack is returning home to SSY”.
“We have ambitious plans for our capes business and I’m confident that Jack, together with Ben, Inderpreet and of course Will, can continue to grow our global position even further,” Jekov said.
When Katzler joins in January, he will join his brother Will Katzler, who is a partner at SSY, specialising in dry cargo and capesizes.
SSY’s network of capesize desk heads also comprises Ben Dudman in the Atlantic and Inderpreet Tandon in the Pacific.
“In its 144-year history, it has undoubtedly achieved legendary status but what particularly excites me about the SSY I know today is how it continues to innovate, evolve and move forward,” Katzler said of his new job.
“That, in addition to the opportunity of working with such an experienced and talented team, was an offer too good to refuse and I look forward to working together to grow our capes business around the world.”
SSY has been on ambitious expansion since Jekov took the top job in January 2023 through new hires and service offerings, most notably entering the offshore sector through acquisitions.
This year to date, SSY has expanded its ship finance offering in Asia with hires of well-known names including former banker Ali Susanto in Singapore and Terry Chen in Shanghai.
Derivatives have also been a focus area this year. In April, Phoebus Kaloudis joined as head of business development for SSY Futures.
In April, Phoebus Kaloudis joined as head of business development for SSY Futures, shortly after it launched a dedicated sales and execution desk for agricultural derivatives.
The desk comes with three new staff members and will focus initially on grains, oilseeds and soft-commodity derivatives.
SSY Futures last year executed milestone volumes in November for iron ore derivatives when it rolled a 5m-tonne position from a 2023 prompt date into 2024, generating a total futures volume of 10m tonnes.
