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Gulftainer Company Limited, one of the preeminent shipping companies and port terminal handlers in the world, is all geared for rapid expansion under the leadership of Peter Richards, the erstwhile Managing Director of the company. It seems that Peter Richards has already got the proper plan in place to ensure that Gulftainer is ready for the exciting times ahead. Peter Richards mentions on how he plans to proceed with his new expansion strategy, “We are bringing on board some high level and very experienced port industry people to take Gulftainer to the next step” He also added that, “I want to be able to lift my head up and look at opportunities in more detail. At the moment I am chasing my tail since we have got so much on the table”. As for the reason for this shift in gears, he quips playfully, “You have got to read that I am getting old, I am getting tired and I was travelling for 220 days last year. We are manning up to meet the growth of Gulftainer and the desires of the shareholders to continue our expansion”. Well, the intent is quite clear in these statements and in fact, Peter Richards has already started implementing it. This can be seen in the fact that Gulftainer has already hired prominent new professionals for the task. Peter Ford, who was earlier associated with APM Terminals has been designated as the Group Chief Operating for the Salalah Port. Moreover, he is joined by other new young directors, viz. Jay New, the new Commercial director of the company who came aboard from Hutchison Port Holdings and Maersk Line. Another key person recently appointed is Richard Szuflak, who has joined as the Group Director, Finance and Investment after his masterful stints at CMB Port Group and Babcock & Brown. Moreover, the company recently acquired a 51% stake in the Saudi Arabian enterprise Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Co. which will enhance the total volume to 7 m teu in 2014. This move is seen as essential since the company is keen to increase its hold on other important terminals such as Khor Fakkan, which is on its way to becoming a serious contender for the biggest port terminal in Middle East, therefore Peter Richards does not want to let this opportunity slip out of hand, since Gulftainer has already registered itself as the top Middle East port terminal handler despite stiff competition. With a well set strategy in place which is already being implemented laboriously, it seems that Peter Richards is more than ready to take the big leap forward in the coming times. His efforts will ensure that Gulftainer emerges as a major player yet again in the ever competitive terminal handling industry.
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