Series of senior management appointments at ABS
ABS President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki announced a series of senior management appointments at the leading classification society aimed at further strengthening the delivery of the growing range of technical and quality-based services available to the industry.
James (Jim) Gaughan replaces Dr. Kirsi Tikka as Chief Engineer of the society who was recently appointed President and COO of the ABS Europe operating division. Gaughan returns to ABS after spending the past 13 years as an international engineering consultant with a particular focus on the design and operation of LNG carriers. During his consulting years, Gaughan worked closely with ABS on a wide variety of projects, including LNG-related initiatives. During his previous time with ABS, Gaughan served in a variety of senior engineering positions.
“Jim Gaughan has in-depth knowledge of ABS and his activities over the last few years have given him great insight into the engineering priorities of shipping companies and the design challenges of the shipyards,” says Wiernicki. “With his comprehensive knowledge and insight, I am confident that he will strengthen the delivery of engineering-related services to our clients around the world.”
To ensure a seamless transition, Gaughan will receive direct assistance from Robert (Bob) Giuffra, who will move from his current position as Senior Vice President, Quality and Service to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Service Delivery.
“Bob Giuffra previously served as Chief Engineer and has been responsible for the consistent application of our technical criteria and for our quality management system,” says Wiernicki. “This, together with his nearly four decades of experience within ABS gives him an extraordinary perspective on how we can best develop, administer and deliver our engineering and technical services to the industry.”
Adam Moilanen who currently serves as Chief of Staff for the organization has been named Vice President, Quality. “Our quality system has been recognized by our external auditors and by the IACS quality system as being one of the most comprehensive and effective management systems they have encountered,” says Wiernicki. “The whole basis of an effective management system is the concept of continual improvement and we will be looking to Adam Moilanen to do just that.”
“We believe that by applying a risk management philosophy to the process, we will be able to better identify the critical elements of the system that need to be emphasized. This will streamline the overall application and place a greater emphasis on providing quality products and services to our clients in the most effective manner,” he says. “Adam has the background and in-depth functional knowledge of our operations needed to apply this different perspective and develop a more modern, focused system to underpin our operations in the future.”
Taking a broader perspective, Wiernicki noted that he considers the current challenges facing the classification sector from a regulatory, technical and service delivery perspective to be “an opportunity for ABS to rethink class and to lead the development of more targeted, effective, risk-based standards that better promote the safety of life, property and the natural environment. These new appointments are in line with that strategy.”
The above management changes are effective 1 May 2012.
Source: ABS