Scott Bergeron has joined dry bulk giant Oldendorff Carriers just three months after his abrupt exit as head of the world's second largest flag.
Bergeron will be director of business development and strategy based in Oldendorff's office in Stamford, Connecticut.
He told TradeWinds today: "It is what I refer to as a hybrid role - developing new business and cargo flows for North America and having a strategic role for shipowning and managing. It's exciting to be back on the shipowning side of this great industry."
It is a major change of direction for Bergeron who spent 19 years as chief executive officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry until his sudden departure in March.
Bergeron declined to comment publicly at that time, although a close rival thought his departure would be "a big loss" as he had become the face of the business.
Speculation among rivals and clients has suggested that the split was caused by internal arguments over commercial strategy in the intensely competitive registry business. Liberia has declined to comment.
Oldendorff Carriers has established itself as one of the biggest independent operators and owners of dry bulk tonnage.
It claims to operate around 700 chartered and owned ships at any one time, carrying about 320m tonnes of cargo every year.
Headquartered in Lubeck, Germany, it now employs 4,000 people in 18 offices world wide.
As a private family-controlled company under the leadership of chairman and majority owner Henning Oldendorff, it does not disclose detailed financial results but has said it generates turnover of around $5bn annually.
Since 1980 when Henning Oldendorff took over as chief executive at the age of 23, the company has expanded greatly. Recruitment of Peter Twiss as chief executive in 2003 accelerated the change by bringing the concept of freight trading to the business.
Writing on LinkedIn in recent days under his new title, Bergeron said he had been in Copenhagen with his new colleagues discussing IMO 2020.
"The devil is in the details but Oldendorff will be ready," he wrote.
The Liberian registry has not replaced Bergeron directly. Brothers Elan and Adam Cohen who head the flag will work with their top lieutenant Alfonso Castillero, who remains chief operating officer.
