Michael Paterson is to join Svitzer as its newly appointed UK Managing Director on 1 January 2023. Michael (pictured) will head up the UK cluster following the merging of UK North and South operations earlier this year, overseeing the optimisation of Svitzer’s assets in the market through a strategy of increasing operational agility to deliver high-quality customer service in the region.
Michael joins Svitzer from his previous role as Operations Director at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) with a history in maritime gained from 26 years as a Captain in the Royal Navy. He brings to his role excellent management and leadership skills, Executive Board level experience and a passion for team development.
As head of the recently merged UK cluster, Michael will continue to drive operational agility and efficiency in the region, while managing continued market complexities and evolving customer demands. Michael will lead the unified UK cluster management team through these changing and challenging times, with Port Managers, Cluster Technical Managers, the Head of UK Crewing and the Head of the UK Customer Service Centre all reporting to him as UK MD.
Commenting on his new role, Michael Paterson, UK Managing Director at Svitzer said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the maritime sector in my new role at Svitzer. Shaping the future of Svitzer as a unified UK cluster team will be a rewarding and demanding challenge. I look forward to working with Svitzer’s wider management team to continue building a great customer service ethos, drive more efficient UK operations, and continue strengthening our position as the UK’s leading towage provider.
“I’m excited to be part of an organisation that is focused on the future of the industry through its decarbonisation strategy and dedication to continuously adding value for customers.”
Sharing her thoughts on Michael’s appointment, Lise Demant, Managing Director, Svitzer Europe said: “In his role as UK MD, Michael will be a huge asset for Svitzer Europe. He is a proven business leader with a real passion for people as well as the maritime industry. Earlier this year, we identified the need for stronger regional alignment in the UK cluster, and Michael will be integral to unifying UK operations under a single management team. Svitzer faces a number of significant challenges in the region, and Michael’s experience operating in challenging environments with calm focus will be critical to helping Svitzer navigate market complexity while maintaining our high levels of customer satisfaction.”
