Posted on: 22 July 2021
Braemar, a leading international shipbroker and provider of expert advice in shipping investment, chartering, risk management and logistics services, is pleased to announce the appointments of Tristram (“Tris”) Simmonds and Elizabeth Gooch MBE to the Board of the Company as Chief Operating Officer (Executive) and Non-Executive Director respectively, both with effect from 1 August 2021.
Tris is the Managing Director of Braemar Atlantic Securities, the Group’s derivative brokerage business. Tris has c. 30 years’ experience in the commodities industry, having founded Atlantic Brokers Ltd in 2013 which was sold to Braemar in 2018. Prior to that, Tris worked at GFI Group for 14 years, latterly as Head of European Commodities. Tris will be responsible for the operations of the Group’s businesses and will assist James Gundy, Braemar’s Group Chief Executive Officer, and Nick Stone, the Chief Financial Officer, in implementing the Board’s growth strategy.
Elizabeth has over 16 years’ experience of governance, compliance and financial reporting of publicly listed companies, having founded and run AIM-quoted software company eg solutions plc from 2005 until its acquisition by Verint Systems Inc. in 2017. In addition, Elizabeth is a Non-Executive Director of AIM-quoted ECSC Group PLC and Nivo Solutions Limited. Elizabeth will join the Group’s Audit and Nomination Committees and will chair the Group’s Remuneration Committee after the conclusion of the forthcoming AGM on 26 August 2021.
Jürgen Breuer, presently a Non-Executive Director of the Company and Chair of the Remuneration Committee has decided not to offer himself for re-election at the forthcoming AGM and will stand down from the Board at that time. Jürgen has been a director with Braemar and ACM for over ten years, having joined Braemar’s Board following the merger of Braemar and ACM Shipping Group plc (“ACM”) in July 2014, prior to which he was a Non-Executive Director of ACM from February 2011.
Nigel Payne, Non-Executive Chairman of Braemar, said: “I am delighted to welcome two new members to the Board. Tris has been with Braemar since its acquisition of Atlantic Brokers and has been instrumental in the successful building out of Braemar’s derivative brokerage services. The Board is fortunate to have two excellent executives in James Gundy and Nick Stone and I would like to thank Nick for stepping into the dual COO/CFO role and doing a first-class job during the recent management transition. The addition of Tris creates a stronger team with the bandwidth and experience needed to deliver the Board’s growth aspirations for the benefit of all stakeholders of the Group.
“I am equally pleased to welcome Elizabeth to the Board as a Non-Executive Director. Elizabeth’s prior governance, PLC and technology experience in growth-oriented people-based businesses is highly complementary to the Group’s strategy and existing Non-Executive skill base.
“After many years in the industry and ten years as a Non-Executive Director with Braemar and ACM, I fully understand Jürgen’s decision to not stand for re-election. Many years before he joined the Board of ACM, Jürgen was instrumental in founding the Wet FFA joint venture between GFI and ACM, which to this day continues to have a strong reputation and successfully contributes to Braemar. Jürgen has since been a highly engaged and valuable member of the Board as a Non-Executive Director, for which we are extremely grateful, and we wish him well for the future.”
