Sign up
Log in Sign up
Wed 19 Nov 2014, 16:55 GMT

BMS United Bunkers names new managing director for Asia


George Kounalakis will be responsible for the firm's offices in mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore.

Marine fuel trading firm BMS United Bunkers has named George Kounalakis as its new managing director in Asia. He will be responsible for the firm's offices in mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore, and is due to begin his new role on Monday, December 8.

In an emailed statement, BMS United Bunkers said: "George has over 10 years of experience with an international career in sales, commercial and strategic development, as well as asset management. Recently he has held trading and management positions with well known [sic] broking and trading companies."

"George's knowledge will greatly benefit our organisational development. George will work closely with the senior staff and traders in Asia as well as the management in Argentina, Cyprus and Greece in developing our Asian activities."

Mikael Haestrup, who has been employed in Asia for the last six months, is to return to Greece "to take up new challenges within our organisation", the company said.

Prior to the BMS United Bunkers announcement, Kounalakis had been employed as senior trader at Integr8 Fuels in Singapore since July 2013. Before that, he held two roles at LQM Petroleum Services between 2010 and 2013: Manager, Far East Sales / Fuel Oil Broker, where he was based in Singapore; and International Sales and Marketing / Marine Fuel Oil Broker, where he was based in the United States.

Before joining the bunker industry, between June 2005 and June 2009 Kounalakis worked as Asset Management Vice President for Columbia Management / Riversource Distributors; Assistant Vice President Regional Sales for J&W Seligman / Riversource Distributors; and as an internal sales professional for J&W Seligman. He was also financial consultant / mutual fund analyst at WR Financial Managment between August 2002 and May 2005.

Kounalakis was educated at the Santa Clara University (SCU) Leavey School of Business in California, where he studied business, finance, economics and international business between 1998 and 2002.

The appointment of Kounalakis comes five months after the announcement that BMS Bunkers and Asian bunker trading specialist United Bunkering and Trading (UBT) were merging their respective brands to form BMS United Bunkers.

As a merged firm, BMS United Bunkers Group combines the offices of BMS Bunkers in Greece and Argentina with the offices of United Bunkering and Trading located in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and Taiwan.

China  Greece  Hong Kong  Indonesia  Singapore  Hong Kong (HK)  Singapore (SG) 
CMA CGM Berenice vessel. CMA CGM methanol dual-fuel vessel makes first call at Malta Freeport  

Berenice is fifth in a six-ship series of methanol dual-fuel vessels being introduced by the French shipping group.
Everllence 16V175D engine render. Everllence's 175D engine wins offshore tug order from Türkiye  

Sixteen gensets are bound for four Rampage 6000-DE terminal tugs destined for Guyana.
NSD 75CC vessel design render. NSD wins BioMar fish feed vessel contract with hybrid propulsion design  

The NSD 75CC will feature a hybrid system combining electric and direct diesel-mechanical propulsion.
CCS type approval for All-scenario methanol single-fuel engine CCS awards type approval to China’s first all-scenario high-pressure direct-injection methanol medium-speed marine engine  

China Classification Society certifies SMDERI’s methanol single-fuel engine.
Carnot multi-fuel engine. Carnot tests engine on biodiesel as multi-fuel development programme advances  

UK engine developer Carnot has run its engine on biodiesel, adding to prior diesel and hydrogen tests.
IBIA logo. IBIA to hold mass flow meter training course in Rotterdam as industry reflects on first months of implementation  

One-day course covers MFM technology, regulatory frameworks and practical bunkering experience.
AQUBE battery system. Sunlight Group subsidiary lands first order for AQUBE liquid-cooled battery system for DLR research vessel  

A 48-metre floating technology platform will test hydrogen, hybrid and electric propulsion systems at sea.
Fure Vasa vessel. Furetank to name LBM-fuelled Fure Vasa as Swedish-flagged fleet reaches 105 ships  

Vessel to run primarily on liquefied biomethane (LBM) within the EU and is equipped for shore power connection.
Mitsui-Everllence 7S60ME engine. Mitsui E&S completes commercialisation of ammonia dual-fuel engines and fuel supply systems  

Japanese manufacturer says it is now ready to supply ammonia propulsion systems for actual vessels.
Jacob Norgaard, Bunker Holding. Bunker Holding appoints Global Risk Management's Jacob Nørgaard as CFO  

Michael Krabbe steps down after eight years with the company.




   Fuels & Propulsion

Ammonia B100 B24 B30 Bio-LNG / LBM / LBG Biofuel Biogas Biomethanol CBM Dual-fuel E-fuel E-methane / e-NG E-methanol Electric Ethanol FAME Green hydrogen Green/e-ammonia HVO Hydrogen LNG LPG Lubes Methanol MGO Nuclear UCOME ULSFO VLSFO Wind



 Recommended