Tropical Shipping today announced the promotions of Van Kent to Vice President Human Resources, Jorge Martinez to Vice President Legal, Steve Snyder to Vice President Organizational Support and Geoff Thurston to Vice President, Commercial and Trades.

Van and Jorge will continue to lead their respective functions and all reporting relationships remain the same.

Steve will be responsible for the support functions of Information Technology, Risk Management, Purchasing, Projects & Business Analysis, and Security & Facilities. Reporting to Steve will be:

Rick Spohn     General Manager – Information Technology

Chris Triggs     Director – Risk Management

Don Jones       Director – Purchasing

Anna Koldys    Director – Projects & Business Analysis

Tony Zerante  Senior Manager – Security & Facilities

Geoff will be responsible for the commercial/sales organization and trade/island/port personnel and operations.  Gordon Cole is promoted to Assistant Vice President with all of his functions and reporting relationships remaining the same.  In addition to his current direct reports, the following will also report directly to Geoff:

Tim Martin       AVP Bahamas & Western Caribbean Trades

Bill Taylor        AVP Global, Interisland & Eastern Caribbean Trades

Gordon Cole   AVP Canada, Hispaniola & Virgin Islands Trades

Reggie Kelley  AVP Trade Operations

We also welcome to the Tropical Shipping leadership team in September, Jamie Mahoney, Vice President, Marine and U.S. Operations.  Jamie most recently worked at Agility Logistics (a $6.5 billion global logistics provider) where he serves as a Vice President focused on key global accounts.  Prior to Agility, Jamie was a Vice President at Auxis Management and Technology Consulting and the supply chain practice leader. Additionally, he served at the executive level with Geologistics (a $1.8 billion global logistics provider) as Vice President.  Earlier in his career, Jamie worked for the container shipping lines of both Sea Land and Thompson Shipping Lines (prior to Tropical’s acquisition of Thompson).  Jamie rose to the General Manager level with both Sea Land and Thompson. While a G.M. at Sea Land, he spent three years based in Puerto Rico.  Jamie graduated Cum Laude from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy where he earned a B.S. in Transportation, and is fluent in Spanish.  Reporting to Jamie will be:

Jeff Fiser         AVP – Warehousing, Inland Transportation & Documentation

Erwin Holder   G.M. – Marine Operations

Doug Vogt       Director – Maintenance & Equipment Control

Ken Johnson   Director – Vessel Planning

Ed Severino    Director – U.S. Terminal Operations

Bill Girard, Vice-President and CFO, will continue as a member of the leadership team, leading his respective functions and all reporting relationships remain the same.

Mark Chapman and Jennifer Nugent-Hill are leaving Tropical Shipping. “I wish Mark and Jennifer the best as they move on to new opportunities. I have the greatest respect for everything they have accomplished and contributed to Tropical over the years,” stated Mike Pellicci, President, Tropical Shipping.

“I believe this executive leadership team will provide our organization, customers and stakeholders with leadership continuity and the management capability necessary for Tropical’s success and future growth”, said Mike.  “Please join me in congratulating them.”