Paddy Rodgers compared himself to ex-Arsenal Football Club boss Arsene Wenger when he revealed his decision to resign as Euronav chief executive in February.
“You go to Burnley and lose 2-0 and have to explain where it all went wrong when you’re doing so much right,” Rodgers mused in an interview with TradeWinds.
But his successor, Hugo De Stoop, who has stepped up from the chief financial officer’s chair, is seeking to be more like Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish — a star player turned championship-winning player-manager.
“It’s a good thing to sit on the bench, but I like to get into the action,” De Stoop says.
“I’m only 46 years old and I like to really be part of the team in addition to leading it. That is why I’m really excited to be based in Antwerp, close to the action and the departments we have here.”
De Stoop describes himself as a relatively calm character who can get very excited by opportunities — but is more of “a rock”.
“In difficult times, I think I am better than when the market is good and things are easy," he says.
"I think I demonstrated that in the long crisis we had to endure between 2009 and 2013,” he adds, noting the period saw him leading efforts to strengthen the balance sheets and restructure newbuilding commitments.
“I believe when things are good, and the market is generous, it's very difficult to make a difference between the OK people and the above-average people.
"I don’t consider myself above average, but I do consider my work ethic and work endurance to be above average. I have a tendency to never let go.”
