Singapore shipowner IMC has confirmed the appointment of Keith Denholm as commercial director for its dry bulk operation.
IMC Shipping Group managing director Frederik Guttormsen said Denholm's extensive experience in dry bulk shipping and commodity trading will be “very valuable to IMC and to its ongoing expansion in the dry bulk operating segment”.
Denholm said that IMC was “in a strong position” to capture market opportunities and to take a leading role in innovation in the industry.
“I am looking forward to contribute with my experience and to continue adding value to our clients in this period of growth and innovation,” he said.
Over the years, IMC has shifted its business model from being a traditional shipowner into being asset-light operator, claiming it to increased its agility in the various market segments.
The company’s dry bulk arm, which operates vessels from handysize up to post-panamaxes, is said to have established a strong presence on the major trading routes in Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Persian Gulf.
“Keith will primarily be focusing on growing our asset light operating business and will also work closely with our other shipping businesses, which consists of IMC Tankers and Ship Services, to further expand our integrated platform”, Guttormsen added.
Denholm joins IMC with close to 40 years of shipping experience covering tankers, gas and dry bulk.
Much of that time has been spent in Asia, where he had worked in senior executive roles in companies such as Pacific Carriers and Lorentzen & Stemoco.
But the Singapore-based Scotsman spent less than a year at the Norwegian shipbroker before leaving to chase unicorns for US computer billionaire Michael Dell.
He was recruited as chief executive of Caledonia Maritime Services which was set up by the Dell computers founder to make large maritime investments.
Denholm has also spent extended periods in New York with Eagle Bulk Shipping and Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy, which later became Castleton Commodities International.
He remains a non-executive director in family company J&J Denholm, where he started his career as a technical ship management trainee before working as a trader.
