Steve Kunzer has stepped down as chief executive of Dubai-based shipowner Lila Global.
Market observers close to the shipping arm of cash buyer GMS revealed at the TradeWinds Ship Recycling Forum last week that Kunzer had quietly left the company a “week or two” earlier.
No reasons for his stepping down after 21 months were disclosed, although the parting of ways was said to have been amicable.
Lila Global’s roots stretch back to 2017, when GMS founder and president Dr Anil Sharma, who had previously dabbled in shipowning on an ad-hoc basis, decided to consolidate such activities under one company.
Lila took delivery of a pair of ultramax bulk carriers that had been ordered in China in 2014, but since then its focus has been on mid-age vessels with a view to long-term ownership, and vintage assets that are operated until they can be flipped for a profit in the recycling market.
Initially, Lila Global was managed by the GMS management team. Kunzer was recruited to lead the company in January 2023, tasked with professionalising it and repositioning it as a stand-alone entity with its own executive management team.
Kunzer’s long shipping career, which includes top management roles at P&O Bulk, Associated Bulk Carriers, Zodiac Maritime Agencies, Tanker Pacific and Eastern Pacific Shipping, made him ideal for this role and the many other tasks involved.
Under his tenure a new management structure was developed for Lila Global, along with new ship management practices and procedures to improve the quality of its vessels, and growing the management team.
Throughout its existence, Lila Global has been a prolific asset player, extremely active on the sale-and-purchase front as a buyer and a seller. Its website lists it as owning 34 bulkers, tankers, container ships and multipurpose ships.
Sources close to Lila Global said Sharma has taken command until a decision on how to replace Kunzer is made.
TradeWinds was unable to reach Kunzer for comment.
