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Leading physical bunker supplier Chemoil has appointed international marine fuels specialist, Andres Galavis, to head up its centre of operations in Panama.

With more than 20 years experience in the marine fuels and wider energy sector, Mr Galavis’s appointment as Managing Director further strengthens Chemoil’s senior management team and builds significant regional expertise within the company’s Panama division. Prior to joining Chemoil, Mr Galavis, 55, served four years with Hydrocarbon Consulting advising in the areas of hydrocarbon trading and business development for Latin America and the Caribbean. Within this capacity, his vast experience and extensive knowledge of the oil industry created value for prominent companies and institutions including LUKOIL Pan Americas, ITOCHU Venezuela, and the Guatemalan Government.

Chosen for his impressive career history which spans key management areas including strategic planning, international trading, supply and logistics and public affairs, Mr Galavis has held senior management positions for leading fuel corporations such as Aivepet South America – the largest Petroleum inspection company in Venezuela. In this role as Marketing Vice President, Mr Galavis was responsible for business development and the co-ordination of the day-to-day commercialization of the company’s services.

“I am delighted to help shape the future direction of Chemoil’s Panama division. The company has the leading share of the region’s marine fuels market and I look forward to realizing Chemoil’s further expansion plans in Panama,” said Mr Galavis.

Mr Galavis has held a number of other leadership positions with multi-national companies. Before joining Aivepet S.A as Marketing Vice President in 2001, he ran his own company dedicated to the international trading of scrap nonferrous material. From 1997 to 1999 Mr Galavis was also General Manager of Oil Products Trading for the entire PDVSA group, with responsibility for the international trading of 1 million barrels/day of refined products produced by PDVSA’s foreign and Venezuelan refining system. Other notable achievements within his career history include his role as International Trading Manager with Maraven S.A and Public Affairs Manager with the same company.

Commenting on the appointment, Chemoil’s CEO, Mr Mike Bandy said: “I am delighted to welcome Andres Galavis to Chemoil. He brings many years of experience with multi-national energy companies in management, marketing, and oil products trading. Combined with his regional knowledge, excellent leadership skills and industry expertise, his appointment provides strong direction for the team of dedicated and experienced professionals in Panama.”