Norwegian dry bulk operator Western Bulk Chartering has appointed Torbjørn Gjervik as its new chief executive officer (CEO) effective September 1, 2024.
He will replace Ørjan Svanevik, the interim CEO since March. Svanevik, the former director and COO at John Fredriksen’s Setankers Management joined Western Bulk’s board last August. He took on the CEO role from Hans Aasnaes who announced he was stepping down in February this year.
Gjervik comes from the position of head of North Atlantic and has served in several management positions across the Western Bulk global network and offices, including seven years in Singapore where he also served as managing director.
When Gjervik takes over, the current interim CEO, Svanevik, will continue in his position as a board member.
“I am pleased to announce Torbjørn as the new CEO of Western Bulk. He brings vast industry experience, a track record and a strong personal drive to enhance our value creation opportunities as a trading-oriented, asset-light dry bulk operator. Torbjørn is a true company man with a Western Bulk pedigree spanning from trainee entry in 2011 to climb the ladder to the very top,” said Bengt Rem, chairman of Western Bulk.
“I’m excited to be working on further refining our asset-light trading model, together with great colleagues across the globe,” Gjervik added.
The Oslo-listed Western Bulk operates in the handysize, supramax and ultramax segments, running a fleet of around 130 vessels.
