Grove to run ABS Pacific division

Grove to run ABS Pacific division American Bureau of Shipping has named Todd Grove president and chief operating officer of the society’s Pacific division.
   Previously chief of staff at the classification society’s corporate headquarters in Houston, Grove is relocating to the division’s principal office in Singapore. With more than 1,000 employees, the Pacific division is the largest of the three operational and administrative divisions within ABS.
   He assumes day-to-day administrative and operational responsibility for the society’s activities in more than 20 countries stretching from India to New Zealand, including the important shipping and shipbuilding nations of Japan, Korea and China.
   ABS said it has the leading share of all newbuilding contracts placed with Chinese shipbuilders and holds the No. 2 spot at both the Korean and Japanese yards.
   Grove replaces Jim Liebertz who led the ABS Pacific Division for the last five years, a period resulting in unprecedented growth. Liebertz moves into the role of vice president of global marketing.