Board of Directors

All

Director

Mr. Salah Sharaf

Mr. Salah Sharaf is a Director of WaterFront and an Executive Director of the Sharaf Group, a joint shareholder in WaterFront Maritime Services and one of the largest and most diverse business conglomerates in the Middle East, comprising more than 60 operating companies across six business segments.

Over the past 23 years, Mr. Sharaf has held senior positions across the Sharaf Group of businesses including Sharaf Shipping, Sharaf Travel, Emarat Maritime and more recently at the Group level as Executive Director responsible for overseeing all business operations across its six business segments.

As Executive Director, Sharaf Group, Salah is responsible for the strategic planning of the Group’s diverse business portfolio and managing all investments, projects and partnerships.

A word on ship agency: “The entry point into cities is through the port, and as a port agent you feel the heartbeat of trade. Every day is a new challenge to provide important support to your clients, and to help them to achieve their business objectives.” – Salah Sharaf, Director, WaterFront Maritime Services.

Director

Mr. Kapil Celly

Mr. Kapil Celly is a Director of WaterFront and an Executive Director of the Sharaf Group, a joint shareholder in WaterFront Maritime Services and one of the largest and most diverse business conglomerates in the Middle East, comprising more than 60 operating companies across six business segments.

Mr. Celly has worked in various positions across the Sharaf Group for more than 35 years, having worked diligently to expand the Group’s presence and operations across the Middle East, Africa and Indian Subcontinent. He has held positions from sales and marketing through to middle-management roles across the organisations’ shipping business.

In his current role as Executive Director of Sharaf Group, Mr. Celly is responsible for projects, investments and partnership arrangements across 32 countries, managing the strategic growth of the organisation and the continued profitability of the Group’s diverse service offerings.

A word on ship agency: “Having worked in this business for more than 30 years, I know that there is a need to constantly evolve and find new ways to offer innovative solutions to our customers’ changing needs. This means embracing or developing new technological and IT solutions, expanding into new markets and leveraging our expertise in new areas. I know that this is not always without its challenges, but the benefits are well worth the hard work.” – Kapil Celly, Director, WaterFront Maritime Services.

Director

Mr. Kristian Vandermeer

Mr. Kristian Vandermeer is a Director of WaterFront Maritime Services and Group Managing Director of Ben Line Agencies, a joint shareholder in WaterFront Maritime Services. Mr. Vandermeer brings a wealth of experience to the shipping industry and regional expertise across the Asia Pacific to his role as a Director of WaterFront.

At Ben Line Agencies, Mr. Vandermeer oversees the overall activities of the group, which cover the key areas of Liner Agency, Marine Agency and Integrated Logistics services. Additionally, Mr. Vandermeer oversees the group’s product management team, covering port agency, offshore support, project logistics and broking divisions. During his time with the company, Kristian has held managerial roles in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. In addition, he also holds board responsibilities for the company’s operations in Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Mr. Vandermeer has been with the company for 15 years, and prior to joining, he worked for the Maersk Group for five years in Australia and Japan.

Educated in Australia, Mr. Vandermeer is a graduate of the University of Technology in Sydney and also completed his early maritime training with Maersk Group, completing the Maersk International Shipping Education programme with the major shipping organisation.

A word on ship agency: “No ship call is ever the same, and no Principal is ever the same. In ship agency, there is nothing more important than communication, and working with your Principals to find solutions that make their jobs easier.” – Kristian Vandermeer, Director, WaterFront Maritime Services.