UAE-based GP Global (formerly Gulf Petrochem Group) has expanded its European and Asia Pacific bunkering operations with the appointment of five senior traders alongside a new office in Hull, UK and a new branch office in Seoul, South Korea.

Steven Taylor, lead – Physical Supply, West of Suez and Susan Needham, trading operator – Physical Supply West of Suez, both previously of Ocean Connect Marine UK Ltd, a Glencore subsidiary bring over 30 years’ worth of experience in the market and will lead the brand-new GP Global office in Hull, UK.

At GP Global’s London office, Chris Holroyd and Dave Matthews, two seasoned traders, joined as bunker traders, West of Suez and will be developing and growing GP Global’s trading desk in the capital. Holroyd, previously of KPI Bridge Oil brings with him over 20 years’ worth of experience in the industry. Matthews, previously of Ocean Connect Marine UK Ltd, has over nine years’ worth of experience in the industry with particular skills in risk management and contract negotiations.

Both the Hull and London offices will report into Chris Todd, head of Bunkering, West of Suez at GP Global.

Joining GP Global’s Asia Pacific operations as a senior bunker trader is Robin Park, who will lead the Korean operations in the group’s new office in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to joining GP Global, Park worked with Asia MBS and Cockett Marine Oil in South Korea as well as Glander International Bunkering in Singapore.

Park will report to Anil Keswani, head of Bunkering, East of Suez at GP Global.

The appointments and new offices follow the launch of GP Global’s Southern and Sub-Saharan African trading desks in late 2017 and further consolidate the group’s trading business around the world.

“We are delighted to have strengthened our UK bunker team with experienced, well respected and seasoned professionals within our industry,” said Todd.

“Our UK operations continue to go from strength to strength with the opening of our brand-new office in Hull, strategically located close to the P66 and Total refineries in Immingham, and the expansion of our London office. We expect 2018 to be another successful year at GP Global’s bunkering division due to the team we now have in place West of the Suez.”

Keswani said: “We are pleased to expand our East of Suez operations to Korea with Robin on board. The expansion in our Asia Pacific operations is aimed at strengthening GP Global’s reach in the Bunkering business.”

Prerit Goel, group director at GP Global, said: “Our bunkering division enjoyed a successful year in 2017, despite challenging market conditions, and that was down to the people we have in place across our trading desks around the world. With these latest appointments, we are confident that the new team structure both in the UK and Asia Pacific will allow us to capitalise on further opportunities moving into 2018.” – TradeArabia News Service