Chris Koch, current president and CEO of the World Shipping Council (WSC), will retire from his position on July 31, 2015, and WSC Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, John Butler, will assume that position on August 1 of next year. After his retirement as president, Koch will continue to support the Council in a senior advisory capacity. In announcing the personnel changes, Chairman of the WSC Board of Directors, Ron Widdows, stated: “Chris has decided to move to the Sonoma Valley in California – a beautiful place that he loves. During his 15 years of leadership, he helped the liner shipping industry build WSC into a respected advocacy organization that represents the industry effectively in Washington, in Brussels, at the International Maritime Organization and World Customs Organization, with other international and national government and industry bodies, and with the media. The WSC Board is very grateful for his excellent service to the industry, and appreciates his desire to step down from the WSC presidency and enjoy retirement in the Sonoma Valley, but still support the work of the Council. We wish him well in his move to California.” Widdows went on to state: “The Board is confident that John Butler will provide a seamless transition for the Council’s continuing efforts on behalf of the liner shipping industry. When he assumes the position of president next summer, John will have served as WSC’s General Counsel for five years, and prior to that worked on liner shipping issues for 18 years at the renowned maritime law firm of Sher & Blackwell. John has been deeply engaged in all the issues WSC is working on in addition to his broader expertise on a wide range of issues that could affect the industry.” Chris Koch added: “WSC has a staff of exceptional, talented, respected and knowledgeable people, who can and will carry on the organization’s work with expertise and effectiveness. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with them, with the WSC Board, and with the leadership of WSC member companies. While the regulatory and governmental policy issues facing the industry will continue to be challenging, WSC under John Butler’s leadership will continue to meet those challenges.” John Butler added: “WSC is recognized as a thoughtful and effective voice for the liner shipping industry. I am excited about helping the industry continue its efforts, and I appreciate the Board’s confidence in my assuming the leadership of this fine organization.”