UK-based ShipServ, a leading maritime e-procurement platform, has appointed Philip Uhrskov Nielsen as its business and account director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

In his new role, Nielsen will be responsible for building new relationships with shipowners and operators in primarily Greece, which dynamically continues to expand its share of the global fleet, as well as in Southern Europe, said a statement from the company.
 
He has a wealth of experience working in a number of leadership positions across digital and technology markets. Prior to joining ShipServ, Nielsen worked for leading enterprise software company Exus, accelerating the expansion and growth of new business with major financial institutions in Scandinavia and South-East Asia, it said.

He also worked for global US diagnostics company Alere Inc, with responsibility for attracting new prospects within the shipping industry, as well as driving growth with existing customers across the EMEA region.

In addition, Nielsen also founded one of the first digital marketing companies in Greece, building web applications for both Greek and European companies, it added.
 
According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Greek shipping market continues to expand, increasing its share of the global fleet in terms of deadweight tonnage (dwt) to 16.7 per cent, up from 16.36 per cent in 2016.

Therefore, servicing this market will assist Greek shipowners in their growth strategy, as ShipServ not only provides buyers an e-commerce platform which increases efficiencies in the procurement process, but also helps in reducing operational expenditure (OPEX), as well as building better, more productive, partnerships with suppliers through ShipServ’s benchmarking tools.
 
ShipServ’s head of sales EMEA, senior vice president Carsten Schmidt said: “Nielsen joins us at an important time, as we look to continue our growth trajectory as more companies realise the importance of digitalisation.”

“His digital and technology experience from working in other sectors, as well as his knowledge of the shipping industry, will provide our customers with real insights and expertise to smoothly and swiftly adopt the benefits and opportunities of embracing our innovative tools in a rapidly changing market,” he added.
 
Speaking on his appointment, Nielsen said: “Greek shipping companies are known for adapting quickly to market changes, particularly in relation to buying and selling vessels, which has enabled them to be so dominant within the market.”

“As the drive for efficiency and cost reduction becomes more critical, their entrepreneurial flair will be even further empowered by adopting digital transformation to gain competitive advantage,” he said.

“The company has the reputation and credibility for clearly showing the benefits from investing in innovation, and demonstrating how digitalisation forms a core element of an overall winning business strategy. I very much look forward to contributing to the Greek Shipping market’s continued growth ambitions and success,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service