Sustainable Shipping Initiative appoints new General Manager

Tom Holmer’s background in sustainability strengthens NGO’s drive to progress the shipping industry’s sustainability agenda LONDON - The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (“SSI”), a pioneering coalition of companies from across the global shipping industry, today announced the appointment of Tom Holmer as its General Manager. Tom Holmer comes from a background of social sustainability, working for the benefit of seafarers and their families with the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, as well as conducting consultancy work on sustainability issues in the transport sector with Public World.

He will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the SSI, delivering continued progress against the objectives of the SSI’s Roadmap to develop a more sustainable shipping industry by 2040, and making sure the organisation remains a strong voice for the shipping industry in ensuring it achieves global sustainability targets. The board of trustees continues to have oversight responsibility for the SSI, and will work with Tom Holmer to ensure that the SSI, and its members continue to engage with the industry and build momentum towards a more sustainable future for shipping. Commenting on his appointment, Tom Holmer, General Manager, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, said “I am very excited to be joining the SSI. The long-term vision of the organisation is as beneficial as it is unusual, and the determination of members to tackle global issues concerning the continued health of the maritime industry is hugely relevant today.” Holmer commented. Alastair Fischbacher, Co-Chair, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, said “Tom joins us at a time when the shipping industry faces significant challenges; from setting an ambitious path to decarbonisation, improving ship recycling standards, though to social standards on crew welfare. The SSI and its members will continue to work hard to inspire change, and to ensure that we seize the social, environmental and commercial opportunities of creating a sustainable shipping industry. I am confident that Tom will play an essential role to help achieve this, as well as driving further engagement with all sectors of the industry to increase our breadth of membership with companies and organisations that share our vision.” The process to recruit the General Manager for SSI was conducted with Spinnaker Global.