Two members of Chembulk Tankers' executive team are departing amid a flurry of personnel changes.
The private equity-backed Connecticut chemical tanker owner announced Wednesday that chief executive David Ellis is resigning alongside chief commercial officer Steve Laino.
Current chief financial officer Bart Kelleher has been appointed Ellis's replacement, with immediate effect.
The shipowner also named Arthur Regan executive chairman of the board of directors. He joined the board in August 2018.
"As Chembulk continues to drive stakeholder value, Mr Regan will closely coordinate support to the Company and its Board of Directors, which he initially joined at the end of 2018," the company said.
Regan is well-known in shipping for his role at private equity firm Apollo Global Management and as former chief executive at its tanker company, Principal Maritime Management.
He is also executive chairman at bulker owner Genco Shipping & Trading.
Kelleher joined Chembulk in early 2016 as chief strategy officer from Principal Maritime. He took over the chief financial officer position in early 2019 when John Capasso resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Former banker
The executive, who holds master's degrees from Columbia Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also previously held roles at banks Bear Stearns and HSH Nordbank.
Ellis took the reins in 2017, taking over from former chief executive Jack Noonan.
He had previously spent 20 years with chemical tanker rival Odfjell, at one point leading its terminals joint venture. He was also chief executive of Houston-based Waypointe Solutions.
Chembulk said he is leaving for personal reasons and will remain available to the company through the end of this month.
Chembulk did not disclose a replacement for Laino.
Solomon Tan, the company's current senior vice president of finance, will take over CFO duties from Kelleher.
According to the company website, it controls 22 tankers, the oldest of which was built in 2002.
Eric Martin contributed to this story.
