The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) has appointed Guy Campbell as its new chair of trustees as the environmental think tank enters its second decade.
The former Clarksons and Koch Industries executive replaces Stephanie Draper, who stepped down in September.
Draper played a key role in SSI’s founding in 2010 as part of Forum for the Future, and she went on to become the inaugural chair in 2013.
The former chair's commitment to a more sustainable shipping industry has been instrumental in developing SSI as a leading voice, SSI said.
Draper added: "The SSI was the first of its kind – breaking new ground in sustainability and shipping – bringing leaders together to define what is needed."
She said she is proud of what SSI has achieved, including drawing up a roadmap to sustainability, new financial models for energy efficient retrofits, and practical ways to recycle ships.
"It is great to hand over the chair to Guy at a time when SSI is going from strength to strength," Draper added.
Expert guidance
The new man will provide expert guidance and contribute to the initiative's further development, as well as ongoing work in the areas of decarbonisation, ship recycling and seafarers' rights.
Campbell joined the board in June and has worked closely with co-chair Alastair Fischbacher.
He brings 30 years of experience in the dry cargo sector, as broker, charterer, freight trader and currently general manager of Atlantic operations at Swire Bulk.
Campbell is also a part-time arbitrator and was chairman of the Baltic Exchange from 2014 to 2016.
The new appointee said his role is "an exciting opportunity to contribute to the shipping industry at such a significant time."
Concrete action
"I will work to ensure that SSI's work, values and message reach decision-makers and drive concrete action on the operational side of our industry," he added.
Fischbacher explained the board undertook a detailed and rigorous process to ensure someone who understood both SSI’s history and ambitions for the future was appointed.
"Over the past six months the SSI team, Stephanie and I have worked with Guy to ensure a smooth transition," he added.
This year has also seen the appointment of AP Moller-Maersk’s Jacob Sterling and Forum for the Future’s Oriana Brine to the SSI board.
SSI was formed in tandem with industry leaders ABN Amro, BP Shipping, Gearbulk, Lloyd’s Register and Maersk.
A decade's work
In the decade since, the organisation has worked to accelerate progress and collectively address industry gaps in areas ranging from closed-loop materials management, sustainable finance, and shipping’s decarbonisation.
There are now 14 members ranging from charterers and shipowners to shipyards, banks, classification societies and NGOs.
Campbell became a Baltic Exchange member in 1991, having started his career as a shipbroker at JE Hyde.
He joined Koch Industries in 1997, spending 10 years as a chartering manager and eventually becoming director of ocean freight for Koch Carbon.
After six years as dry cargo managing director at Clarksons, he joined Swire.
