Press Release
Jim Hurley appointed Chief Operating Officer; Tanker Veterans to The Concord Maritime Team
Concord Maritime is pleased to announce the appointment of four top-level professionals to its growing management team with Jim Hurley appointed Chief Operating Officer. Jim is responsible for the Company’s commercial and operational performance. Jim has 29 years tanker chartering and management experience as both an owner and charterer. Most recently Jim managed global Suezmax and VLCC Pools where he achieved an outstanding record of performance. Concord Maritime CEO Ben Ognibene commented on the appointment, “Jim is respected throughout the industry and well known for his ability to develop and execute effective chartering strategies across global crude tanker markets. He represents the commitment and premium level of performance Concord strives to provide its partners.” Prior to his 15 years at Heidmar, Jim provided worldwide chartering and logistics services for the trading activities of Bayway Refining, Hess, Phillips 66 and Tosco.
Concord Maritime also announces the selection of Kristen Fugiel, Nikolaos Kontos, and Noreen McCarthy to management positions in the Stamford, Connecticut headquartered firm. All of these seasoned tanker professionals have achieved significant success providing commercial management services. Ognibene says, “Each has shown meticulous focus on their specialty and now play a crucial role in the development and performance of Concord’s crude tanker platform.”
Kristen Fugiel serves as the Company’s Controller. She manages the Company’s accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, and controlling functions. Kristen has 18 years experience with the last 11 years specifically focused on tanker pools. Reporting and transparency are fundamental pillars of pool management, a discipline Kristen has perfected during her many years supervising third-party vessels. Early on she was trained at the accounting firms of Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young.
Nikolaos Kontos now serves as Director of Operations. His responsibilities include oversight of Concord Maritime’s voyage management, vessel operations, bunker procurement, and post fixture functions. Niko has 15 years industry experience and holds a US Coast Guard license as a Chief Mate of unlimited tonnage. A quick study, Niko made the transition from vessel manager to fleet manager of a worldwide Aframax pool in just three years. The depth and breadth of his operational experience is consistently on display through his creative out of the box thinking, effectively maximizing commercial considerations, while maintaining the highest level of safe operations.
Noreen McCarthy now serves as Concord’s Director of Pools. She brings 17 years pool management experience to the team. Her responsibilities include quality control, vessel ratings, formula management and documentation. Noreen’s extensive experience includes serving as Quality Control Manager, Pools Coordinator and day-to-day pool management of leading crude tanker pools. Her behind the scenes work is critical enabling pools to achieve and maintain equitable, current, and user-friendly status. Like many Connecticut tanker veterans, Noreen is a product of former Greenwich-based Stolt-Nielsen.
About Concord Maritime: Concord Maritime is an independent provider of third-party commercial management services to the international seaborne transportation industry specializing in the crude tanker markets. The Company is made up of accounting, chartering, operations, and pool management professionals focused exclusively on operational excellence, commercial performance and the bottom line results of its partners.