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KPI Bridge Oil, a leading broker and trader of marine fuels, lubricants and risk management products, has appointed Rob Atkinson [pictured] as Vice CEO for the group.

Atkinson has held a senior position in the company since joining Kristensons-Petroleum, Inc. (KPI) in 1993.

In a statement, KPI Bridge Oil said he had been "the driving force in the creation and development of KPI as well as the mastermind of the original KPI-Bridge Oil alliance".

"Rob’s vision and determination has played a central role in the company since 1997 when he bought out his former partners and initiated the expansion which made KPI Bridge Oil one of the largest bunker broking and trading houses in the Americas and saw it open offices in Valparaiso, Seattle and Miami and he continues to drive many of the successes in the KPI Bridge Oil Group today," KPI Bridge Oil said.

Atkinson has an extensive knowledge of shipping, marine fuel oils and lubricants. After graduating from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point in 1984 with a degree in Marine Engineering, Atkinson joined the Naval Reserve and served as an engineering officer. He then worked for Advanced Technology, where he became heavily involved in tribology and marine lubricants. He followed this role by taking a job as a Lubricant Sales Engineer (and ultimately East Coast Sales Manager) for BP Marine Lubricants.

Atkinson commented: "KPI was one of the first true marine fuel broking houses in the United States and having been part of it from creation to seeing it grow into one of the largest bunker broking and trading houses in the Americas today makes me very proud as the exact vision I started out with 20 years ago has now become a reality. I very much look forward to taking on a truly global role in the company and getting involved in the development of the wider group and of course to work closer with the management teams around the world."

Jan Obel, CEO KPI Bridge Oil Group said: "Rob stepping up to work at group level will without doubt significantly strengthen our executive management team and enable us to provide more resources to key projects and the individual offices as well as enable us execute commercial decisions faster."