Liberia Registry makes key appointments in UK, Panama, US and Turkey

The Liberian Registry has announced strategic new appointments in a number of the key areas within the global network of offices operated by its US-based manager, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).

Gerard Kenny has been appointed Technical Manager of the Liberian Registry’s London office, where he will primarily serve as a technical advisor to the Liberian delegations to the IMO. A former technical manager and class surveyor with Lloyd’s Register in London and DNV in Sydney, Gerard was most recently Chief Marine Surveyor with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.

Rafael Cigarruista has been appointed Manager of the Registry’s regional office in Panama which, in common with other flags, Liberia established to provide direct services to ships transiting the Panama Canal. Rafael is a former independent nautical engineer with extensive experience of class and statutory surveys.

Pinar Saglam has been appointed Corporate & Registrations Co-ordinator for the Liberian Registry’s office in Istanbul. Previously a Financial Planner with Furtrans Shipping Group, Pinar will be closely involved in daily operations and will also serve as a Special Agent for the Registry.

In the US, meanwhile, Josiah Toepfer has been appointed Manager, Vessel & Company Compliance in the Liberian Registry’s main headquarters office, located in Virginia. His role will be to ensure compliance with Port State Control regulations, and to minimise deficiencies and detentions. A former USCG PSC inspector, Josiah joins the Registry from Sparrow Marine, a shipping audit and consulting company which he founded.

Also in the US, Kevin Smith has been appointed Manager for Vessel Compliance in the Liberian Registry’s Houston office. Kevin, who was previously Regulatory Compliance Manager with Noble Drilling Services, will oversee the regulatory compliance of vessels and managers operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

LISCR CEO Scott Bergeron says, “As the Liberian Registry grows from strength to strength, it is essential for us to ensure that we are able to maintain our ability to provide a high level of service regardless of fleet size. The real assets of the Registry are its people. That is why we are committed to enlisting the services of skilfully qualified personnel, who can bring added value to the Registry’s clients, providing expertise and advice when and where it is needed.”


For photos of other LISCR appointees, please email chris@merlinco.com


The Liberian Registry has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

www.liscr.com

Moore Stephens boosts insurance internal audit team

Leading insurance accountant and consultant, Moore Stephens, is to boost its governance, risk and assurance team with the recruitment of two leading practitioners, Gary Oliver and Gavin Davey.

Currently a partner at Mazars, Gary Oliver is well-known in the London market, providing governance, risk and assurance services and acting as head of internal audit to a range of clients including Lloyd’s agencies and syndicates, insurers and reinsurers. He has strong commercial experience, having been Risk Management and Compliance Director at Ark Syndicate Management and Group Head of Internal Audit at Wellington Underwriting.

Gavin Davey, a Mazars director, specialises in providing IT assurance services to both the Lloyd's market and general insurers. He has extensive experience of all aspects of IT internal audit and statutory audit support services and specifically Solvency II data governance and integrity.

Simon Gallagher, head of Moore Stephens’ insurance practice, says the firm is delighted to have recruited two leading practitioners with such strong reputations. “We are seeing substantial demand for our services and expertise, which we foresee continuing as the regulatory regime tightens,” he explains. “We are actively developing our internal audit portfolio, providing not only both co-sourced and outsourced support, but also delivering individual assignments such as governance strategies, compliance gap analyses, board effectiveness reviews and data quality audits. Gary and Gavin’s recruitment will further enhance our expertise in this area”

Gary Oliver says, “I am very excited to be joining Moore Stephens at a time of increasing regulatory pressure and the need for robust corporate governance in the insurance industry. Moore Stephens has an outstanding reputation as a leading insurance industry adviser with a team of committed and skilled professionals. I am looking forward to joining the team and sharing in the firm’s future success.”

Moore Stephens LLP is noted for a number of industry specialisations and is widely acknowledged as a leading shipping and insurance adviser. Moore Stephens LLP is a member firm of Moore Stephens International Limited, one of the world's leading accounting and consulting networks, with 636 offices of independent member firms in 100 countries, employing 21,197 people and generating revenues in 2011 of $2.3 billion. www.moorestephens.co.uk 

For more information:
Simon Gallagher,
Moore Stephens LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7334 9191
simon.gallagher@moorestephens.com