Svitzer has announced the appointment of Ruther Thulin as its new managing director for the terminal towage cluster in the Americas. This sector includes the company’s operations in Canada, Peru, Costa Rica, Saint Eustatius, an island in the Caribbean known locally as Statia, and the Bahamas.
The A.P. Møller-Maersk Group-owned tug company, Svitzer, is now engaged in the Americas region with more than 80 vessels operating in ports and terminals in 12 countries and with harbour and terminal towage as its main market segments. The firm said this move aims to pursue the increasing growth opportunities within the terminal towage sector of the region.
“Terminal towage is a key business segment for Svitzer and represents a notable part of the total towage business in the Americas, with a significant growth potential,” noted Arjen Van Dijk, Svitzer Americas regional managing director.
Rutger Thulin has worked in different management positions throughout his 14 years with the A.P. Møller-Maersk Group, Svitzer’s mother company. Additionally, he has been with the Danish stowage provider for seven years, while for the past four years, he has been managing director for Svitzer Brazil.
“I am very pleased that Rutger Thulin has agreed to lead our efforts and, together with the rest of the team, work to realise our growth ambitions in the coming years,” commented Arjen Van Dijk.
At the same time, Svitzer Europe has appointed Mattias Hellström as its new chief commercial officer (CCO), who has taken up the role from 1 December.
Mattias Hellström also currently sits on the executive committee of the European Tugowners Association and is a board member of the Swedish Sea Rescue Society.
Svitzer Europe’s new CCO, who will report to Svitzer Europe’s managing editor, Lise Demant, has more than 25 years of experience in shipping and towage, and joined Svitzer Europe in 2014 as Scandinavia managing director. Three years later, his role expanded to cover Svitzer’s important operation in Germany.
Before joining Svitzer, Hellström was Sweden managing director for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and held several regional sales and management positions for Maersk Line.
