We regret to report the death, at the age of 58, of Martin Sgut, one of South America's leading international port consultants
A naval officer by training, Martin Sgut had more than 35 years of experience in the maritime and port industry. His past appointments included senior posts in his native country, Argentina, including at the country's main port of Buneos Aires.
He served as president of the Mercosur association of ports and in various capacities with international agencies such as the Organisation of American States, the Interamerican Development Bank, the World Bank, GTZ, the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN-ECLAC and the ILO.
He was involved in more that 230 port development projects in countries of Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia.
On a number of occasions he was a member of the steering committee of TOC and a judge for the maritime awards of Lloyd's List.
He was also a consultant of Argentina's Universidad Austral and president of the transport committee of the Argentinean Supply Chain Management Association (ARLOG).
''We mourn the loss of a great man of the ports and maritime industry and send our condolences to his family,'' said Ricardo J Sánchez, head of infrastructure, UN-ECLAC in Santiago de Chile.
François Soulet de Brugière, a former president of Dunkirk port authority and currently director general of SRS Société de Recherche de Synergie and vice-president of the Port of Dunkirk's supervisory board, has been elected president of UPF, the French Ports' Association, which represents second and third tier ports in France [NB Dunkirk is one of the leading national ports - grands ports maritimes]. He succeeds Michel Quimbert, who has been named head of the Coordination Board of the Atlantic ports.
US ports operator Metro Ports recently announced three new personnel appointments: Patrick Furrow, SVP HR & administrative services; Kenneth Keane, director, safety; and Steve Mathis, director, business development.
For the first time in its history the Bertschi Group has elected two non-family members to its Board of directors. The new members of the Board of Bertschi Holding are Dr Alexander Krebs, until the end of 2009 chairman and currently still partner of Capvis Equity Partners AG, Zürich and Boy Litjens, a Dutch citizen and until the end of last year CEO of Sabic Europe.
The Alliance Tire Group has announced the appointment of Manuel Pintado, as president of Alliance Tire Europe BV, based in the Netherlands.
