ISSA – the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association – has elected a new President.
Abdul Hameed Hajah from Singapore will succeed Jens Olsen from Denmark when the latter retires at the end of the year.
At the Association’s Annual General Meeting in Panama the ISSA Assembly also elected two new Executive Vice-Presidents to its Board: George Saris from Turkey and Vladimir Koval from Ukraine.
In addition Mr Rocky Rocksborough-Smith from Canada was re-elected Senior Executive Vice-President and Mr Alfred Borg from Malta was re-elected Treasurer.
Retiring at the end of the year as well will be Wim van Noortwijk from The Netherlands, former President of ISSA and in recent years ISSA Assembly Member representing the Associate Membership. Mr Olsen, as retiring President, will now take over this role.
Mr Matti Kokkala from Finland will also be retiring from the Executive Board at the end of the year after many years valuable service as an Executive Vice-President.
Paying tribute to Mr Olsen’s two terms as ISSA President, Mr Abdul Hameed Hajah said: “Jens Olsen has worked tirelessly for the benefit of ISSA Members and launched a number of important and innovative initiatives.
“I fully intend to build on the foundations he has laid and I am glad that he will still be available to offer advice and encouragement to myself and the new team I now have the privilege to lead.”
Jens Olsen commented: “The winds of change are blowing not only in ship supply but the wider maritime community which our members serve.
“It has been hugely rewarding for me to have led ISSA for two terms as President and I am confident that Mr Hajah and the Board will join together to deliver the services and wider representational role that our members require.”
Innovation being ISSA’s watch-word, this year’s annual event was billed as much more of a Regional Meeting and attracted many members from South and Central America.
Delegates from 30 countries attended and focused on the subject of money: how to make it; how to keep it; how to recover it.
Many of ISSA’s top management were in Panama to hear President Olsen announce an unprecedented increase in the overall membership number.
Growth areas include the Indian sub-continent, China, Indonesia and much of Africa.
There was further good news in the number of ISSA Members boasting the ISSA Quality Certification, a Standard recognised and endorsed by the World Customs Organization and InterManager and which can now be said to have achieved critical mass.
Mr Abdul Hameed Hajah and the new Executive Board take office on 1st January 2015.
