One of the best known names in shipbroking has died.
Peter Kitching, former chairman of Simpson Spence Young (SSY), passed away yesterday, aged 80.
Kitching chaired the London broker from 1992 to 2001 and in total worked at SSY for 45 years including a stint in Hong Kong.
Shipbroking and SSY was very much a family enterprise with Kitching’s father, Horace, and son, James, being employed by the firm over the years.
Kitching served as chairman of the Baltic Exchange from 2000 to 2003. He finally retired in July 2003.
“Peter’s leadership, wisdom and passion helped steer us through the many ups and downs of the shipping market, and as a highly regarded shipbroker and former chairman of the Baltic Exchange, he will be sorely missed by his many friends and former colleagues throughout the industry and across the World. We send our heartfelt condolences to the Kitching family at this very sad time,” Mark Richardson, SSY’s chairman, commented yesterday.
Kitching’s death comes just over a month after the passing of another of the 20th century’s shipbroking titans, Hugh McCoy from Clarksons.
