Nasdaq-listed Sino-Global Shipping America has employed the man from whom it acquired its bulker operations this month.
The company said it is bringing in Chinese shipowner Kelin Wu as chief marketing officer.
Wu will lead the company's "global marketing programme and strategies", reporting directly to chief executive Lei Cao, Sino-Global said.
Wu was previously the founder and primary shareholder of Mandarine Ocean, a Shanghai based shipping company registered in the Marshall Islands.
Sino-Global has agreed to buy a 75% majority stake in Mandarine.
Long-term contracts
Wu, who owned 88.5%, will receive up to $3.75m, through a combination of cash and stock.
Over the past three years, Shanghai-based Mandarine has had an average annual revenue of $38m.
Mandarine Ocean was founded in 2013 and has long-term contracts to operate 14 bulk carriers, six of which are owned by Wu.
The majority are handysizes and handymaxes, and range between 20,000 dwt and 50,000 dwt in capacity.
Mandarine Ocean also focuses on shipping agency services, ship management and crew management.
"Mr Wu has extensive experience in the ocean freight services business, having served as one of the upstream clients of Sino-Global's light-asset shipping logistic services," Sino-Global said.
Prior to founding Mardarine, 45-year-old Wu served as general manager of Shanghai Vasteast International, a shipowner and operator.
He graduated from Shanghai Maritime University and holds a master's degree in maritime law.
"He is a dynamic and deeply experienced executive whose leadership, insights, market expertise and creative approach will be invaluable as we move into this next stage of development for Sino-Global," Lei Cao added.
"Throughout our discussions surrounding the share purchase agreement with Mandarine Ocean, we were impressed by Kelin's knowledge of the entire logistics and shipping freight market."
