German owner Briese Chartering’s managing director Ilona Lazareva is quitting the top job after 24 years.
The boss of the multipurpose owner said she will stay on as a chartering broker but will be replaced as managing director by Gunther Siemens, chief operations officer of sister outfit BBC Chartering.
Both companies are controlled by Briese Schiffahrt.
Briese Chartering has 30 multipurpose ships, while BBC controls a fleet of more than 140 MPPs and heavy-lifters.
Lazareva’s company called her “our beloved leader” in a post on LinkedIn.
“Ilona, with her incredible strength, dedication and energy has developed Briese Chartering all these years.
“Together with the whole team, she has led Briese Chartering to a successful market position and has strengthened the company year after year,” the shipowner said.
Lazareva added: “It is the right moment for me to hand over the management tasks to Gunther Siemens, who will start on 1 January 2025.
“I wish Gunther every success and look forward to working with him.
“I will still be the contact person for project development as I have done for 24 years,” she said.
The Briese group believes these changes will enrich the company’s development and support it for many years.
Leer-based BBC said Siemens has been with the company for more than 25 years.
‘Profound knowledge’
He will be replaced by Christoph Deters, team leader in the operations department.
“On behalf of the entire group, I am extremely happy to welcome Gunther Siemens to the role of managing director of Briese Chartering,” said Wilke Briese, managing partner of Briese Chartering.
“With his profound knowledge in multipurpose shipping, Gunther Siemens will be instrumental in further developing our business in the shipping segment Briese Chartering operates in,” he added.
The managing partner said his family extends their sincerest gratitude to Lazareva for her commitment and excellent leadership through the past years.
BBC chief executive Ulrich Ulrichs said: “Gunther had been with BBC from almost day one for over 25 years and he is surely part of the ‘BBC DNA’.”
“We will certainly miss his extensive knowledge, his experience and his well-liked personality, but at the same time, we are very happy that he stays within Briese Group for a new challenge,” he added.
