UK-headquartered Gibson Shipbrokers has signed up former BW Group company director Thomas Woidemann to lead its gas team in Asia as it expands into new clean shipping activities.
The company said Woidemann will join the company in the “early autumn” as head of gas, Asia.
Gibson said in a statement that along with heading up its LPG and petrochemical activities in Asia, “Thomas will play a part in enhancing our commitment towards green shipping initiatives, including CO2 and ammonia.”
Woidemann joins Gibson from BW Epic Kosan where he worked as commercial director since J Lauritzen Kosan and BW’s Epic Gas formalised their merger in March 2021.
Before that, he was employed for more than 16 years with J Lauritzen rising to become the shipowner’s chief executive in January 2019.
He has also spent time in operations and chartering at the beginning of his shipping career in the late 1990s and also in shipbroking, working for Atlas Maritime Associates on gas out of Houston in the US.
Gibson director of gas Neil Pickering described Woidemann as “a big name in our sector”, mentioning his new hire’s contacts with other owners and shipyards.
He said adding someone of Woidemann’s calibre will give a key boost to Gibson’s 40-plus strong gas team which currently spans offices in London, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Pickering said Woidemann will have a focus on long-term project-driven business, particularly as the company grows its green shipping activities.
The director — who has just landed back in the UK after three weeks of travel — commented that the gas shipping market is particularly busy.
He highlighted that these vessels are multifaceted and can carry many different cargoes and there is a large newbuilding orderbook. Added to that, he said there are “a lot of people trying to get into gas”.
Gibson has growing its staff and capabilities, particularly in locations outside its UK base.
In February, the company announced it was making a fresh break into the LNG sector setting up a new department and introducing a four-man team headed up by broker Gerrit Stricker.
