FROM 1 January 2021, Peter Norborg will take over as CEO of Swire Bulk, part of China Navigation Company.

Following the separation of its dry bulk shipping activities from its liner shipping and fleet management businesses Swire Bulk will be established as a stand-alone privately held company headquartered in Singapore on 1 January 2021.

Mr Norborg is an experienced manager who has held several top-level management positions in leading shipping companies, including CEO of Clipper Group since 2016 and  instrumental in Clipper’s strategic re-organisation and the re-focus on its dry bulk business.

Sam Swire, chairman of CNCo, said, “We are delighted that Peter will be joining Swire Bulk as CEO. He brings a wealth of shipping experience and strategic leadership to the role.

“Peter will work closely with Rob Aarvold as general manager of the operating business to help oversee Swire Bulk’s continued development as a high-quality global dry bulk business.

“Swire Bulk has built an excellent reputation in a relatively short period of time and is well-placed to be a market leader in the dry bulk sector,” he said.

Swire Bulk has grown rapidly over the last eight years and has built an experienced team with more than 100 employees across nine offices around the world.

“I look forward to working with Peter as we continue to grow the business,” said Rob Aarvold, Swire Bulk general manager.

Today, Swire Bulk operates a fleet of up to 150 vessels predominantly in the handysize and supra/ultramax sectors. Its fleet will grow in the coming years with the addition of eight new-build handysize Oshima 37,000dwt vessels to be delivered from Q4 2020.

Swire Bulk said it will be “business as usual for Swire Bulk’s customers, tonnage partners and all related stakeholders” both before and after the establishment of Swire Bulk as an independent entity.