RightShip, the leading provider of maritime data and transparency, announces the appointment of Ruma Balasubramanian and Jesper Lok as two Non-Executive Directors to its board, adding additional strategic depth and digital expertise to bolster RightShip’s position as a leading maritime Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) technology provider.

The two non-executive directors will be joining RightShip’s board, currently made up equally of shareholder representatives from BHP, Cargill, and Rio Tinto. Their role will be to support RightShip’s executive leadership team and board members with guidance, applying their expertise to support RightShip in its long-term objectives.

Ruma Balasubramanian, Managing Director, APAC Corporate & Mid-Market Business, Google Cloud, and Jesper Lok, Chair for Inchcape Shipping Services and G&O Maritime Group, joined RightShip’s board in July 2023.

Ruma Balasubramanian

A technologist and senior business executive with 30 years of leadership experience, Ruma has played an instrumental role in nurturing diverse and high-performance teams in the Asia Pacific region at multinational technology companies, while helping organisations across industries embrace cloud, data analytics, and AI capabilities to transform their business and achieve scale. As the Managing Director of Google Cloud’s corporate and mid-market business for the Asia Pacific region, she is responsible for driving strategic direction and growth in this segment. Ruma previously led Google Cloud’s Southeast Asia business. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, whether it’s creating a work environment where everyone—regardless of age, gender, and colour—can thrive, or working to ensure that underserved communities have the capability and opportunity to embrace technology to improve their quality of life.

Jesper brings extensive board experience across the maritime industry and has a robust understanding of regulatory institutions and government networks. Jesper built his career across various executive positions in the Maersk Group, including as CEO of Svitzer. He currently dedicates his time to Board and Advisory work where current and earlier positions include organisations like Inchcape Shipping Services, G&O Maritime Group, CADELER, RelyOn Nutec, Nature Energy and UNICEF.

Jesper Lok

Steen Lund, RightShip’s CEO said “RightShip takes its responsibility to help build a maritime industry which causes zero harm seriously. To support our board and leadership team achieve our ambitious targets, we are excited to bring in the additional ecommerce, growth and digitalisation competence in the appointment of Ruma and Jesper, who complement the existing shareholders excellently.”

“RightShip and the board have a shared goal to improve environmental performance, safety standards and crew welfare practices across the shipping industry. I look forward to working with both Ruma and Jesper, who bring diversity in thought and long-standing experience to our board during this exciting time for RightShip.” said Jan Dieleman, RightShip’s chair and President of Cargill Ocean Transportation.

Ruma Balasubramanian said: “The imperative to promote international trade and commerce to drive economic development and uplift local livelihoods must be accompanied by efforts to improve maritime worker safety, protect the marine environment, and tackle climate change. We cannot afford to blank sail any aspect of this voyage. I’m therefore excited to join the board of RightShip, as it continues to drive adoption of its ESG focused digital maritime platform.

With our collective expertise and desire to address this industry’s most complex challenges through technology, I’m confident that we can make real progress in achieving this company’s vision of empowering zero harm maritime operations on shore and at sea.”

“I am excited about joining the board of RightShip and together with the team contribute to raising awareness on the importance of safety, decarbonisation and staff welfare to the sustainability of the maritime value chain.” said Jesper Lok.

Source: RightShip
 

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	Issue 85 of Robban Assafina (May/ June 2023)