Executive Moves: Seaspan, Wen-Parker and ContainerPort Group

Seaspan names new chief executive officer; Wen-Parker Logistics appoints key account manager and director of finance; and ContainerPort Group President passes away.    Hong Kong-based containership leasing giant Seaspan Corp. has hired Bing Chen to serve as chief executive officer and on the company’s board of directors effective January 2018.
   Seaspan revealed earlier this year that Gerry Wang, the company’s current CEO, co-chairman and co-founder, would be retiring, and announced yesterday that his retirement date will be Nov. 3. Seaspan Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Curtis will serve as Seaspan’s interim CEO until Chen’s arrival, after which he will continue in his current role.
   Chen has held executive positions in China, Europe and the United States throughout his 25-year career. Chen most recently served as CEO of BNP Paribas (China) Ltd., where he led the bank’s growth strategy in China. From 2011 to 2014, Chen was the general manager for Trafigura’s Chinese business operations; between 2009 and 2011, he was responsible for building the greater China investment banking practice of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. as the managing director and head of Asia financial advisory; between 2001 and 2009, he held various leadership roles in Europe, including CEO, CFO and managing director of leasing and aircraft chartering businesses; and between 1999 and 2001, he worked as a director of business strategy at Deutsche Bank in New York.

   Wen-Parker Logistics (WPL), a global freight forwarder and supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Elmont, N.Y., has appointed David Ready to serve as key account manager. Ready has more than 25 years of experience in the logistics and supply chain industry. He has previously held leadership roles at London Fog, Tween Brands (Ascena) and DSW.
   WPL has also named Frank Lavoratore to serve as the company’s new director of finance. Lavoratore worked at UTi Worldwide for the majority of his career, which was acquired by DSV in January 2016.

   Cleveland, Ohio-based motor carrier and terminal services provider ContainerPort Group President Russel Graef passed away on Oct. 26. Since the company’s founding in 1971, Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business.
   He also held leadership roles with the Intermodal Association of North America, served on the board of directors of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference, and was also a founding board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative.