Nigel Pusey, Chairman, Non-Executive Director and Industry Expert

Nigel Pusey was until recently CEO of Container Inland Services, a division of the AP Moller–Maersk Group, probably the most highly regarded company active in the shipping, energy and offshore markets. Prior to joining AP Moller–Maersk, Nigel worked for P&O Nedlloyd and P&O Containers in numerous roles including Corporate Finance Director for the group as well as Managing Director of Southern Africa. He was also CEO of The Maersk Company Limited (UK) and Non-Executive Chairman of INTTRA. Nigel’s comprehensive knowledge of shipping has been gained through an extensive career working across Europe, Africa and Latin America both in financial roles and general management which has provided him with the vision, strategy and capabilities necessary to lead dynamic management teams and complex global organisations.

Alexander Goulandris, CEO and Executive Director

Alexander Goulandris co-founded ESS in 2003 with a mission to eliminate the significant inefficiencies resulting from the use of paper documentation in shipping and trade.  He started his career as a maritime lawyer with Holman Fenwick & Willan in London, Greece and Hong Kong. He then joined Freehill, Hogan & Mahar in New York, where his clients included many leading ship operators. He holds a BSc in Chemistry and Law and a BA in Law, both from the University of Exeter, UK. He also completed the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law, UK and was awarded an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.  Mr Goulandris is a Director of ESS-Databridge Exchange Limited. He was a member of SITPRO's eBusiness & Standards Policy Group between 2007 and 2010, when Sitpro was abolished. He is also a guest lecturer at the Maritime eCommerce elective, part of City University’s MSC Maritime Operations and Management course.

Andre Toet, Non-Executive Director and Industry Expert

André Toet has 25 years of maritime industry experience and has held several supervisory board positions, of which PortInfolink, subsequently Portbase, directly supports his role as non-executive board member for ESS. Andre joined Nedlloyd Lines in 1986, starting his career as a nautical officer. After his seafaring experience, he worked for Nedlloyd Group subsidiaries in several countries in senior positions. Following the merger of P&O Group and Nedlloyd Group he became Managing Director of P&O Nedlloyd Europe in 2000. Following P&O Nedlloyd’s takeover by AP Moller-Maersk, he became CEO of Maersk Central Europe. In 2007 he became the COO of the Port of Rotterdam. By the end of 2011 he will be appointed as the new CEO for SIPC (Sohar Industrial Port Company) in Oman.

Loukas Pilitsis, Non-Executive Director and Industry Expert

Loukas Pilitsis is the head of venture capital and private Equity for Piraeus Bank, chief executive officer of the board of directors of Piraeus Equity Partners, and chief executive officer of Piraeus Equity Advisors. Piraeus Bank is one of the top Greek financial services institutions, with a strong presence in Central and Southern Europe, as well as a presence in the US and London. Mr Pilitsis joined Piraeus Bank in early October 2009 from State Street, a leading global financial services provider serving some of the world’s most sophisticated institutions, with operations in 25 countries.   He held senior positions in investment banking, corporate venture capital & private equity, strategy development and risk management in Boston and London. Mr Pilitsis holds a law degree from Athens University Law School, an LLM from Boston University Law School and an MSF from Boston College. He is a graduate of the Executive Development Program from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Robert Mai, Non-Executive Director and Investor Representative

Robert Mai is Vice President of Klingenstein, Fields & Co, a leading investment advisory firm, where his role includes managing the firm’s Alternative Investments portfolio and fixed income trading platform. He began his career at Citigroup in M&A, structuring deals and analyzing capital structures for middle-market clients. Robert worked in Tokyo and Hong Kong for Lehman Brothers before joining UBS Warburg. In 2001, he joined the private equity group within Citigroup Alternative Investments where he was a Vice President.  Prior to joining KF&C in 2007, he worked at CapitalSource, Inc. in the Structured Finance Group and at Varde Partners focusing on distressed debt securities. He is a director of Gold Mobile, Paradox Technology Solutions LLC, Bridgetown Natural Foods LLC (Observer), and Make Technologies Inc (Observer).  Robert joins the ESS board as Non-Executive Director and Shareholder Representative.

Noel Buttigieg-Scicluna, Non-Executive Director

Trained as a lawyer, Noel Buttigieg-Scicluna is a consultant with EMD, a multidisciplinary firm bringing together legal and financial services and related disciplines. Until 2008 he served as Board Secretary to the Enemalta Corporation, the main provider of energy generation and distribution in the Maltese Islands, Transport Malta, Water Services Corporation and Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation as well as holding Non-Executive Directorships on a number of boards. Between 1976-1990, Noel practiced law in the Maltese Courts dealing mainly with Commercial and Civil law cases. Between 1987 and 1996 he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Libyan Maltese Holding Company Limited, a holding company bringing together various companies set up by the Maltese and Libyan Government. His public career has included roles such as Maltese Ambassador to Denmark, and non-resident Ambassador to Sweden, Finland, Norway and Hungary.