By Gedion Timothy 
Steamships Trading Company Ltd. (Steamships) has announced the appointment of Mr. Chris Daniells as its new Managing Director, effective Monday, July 1, 2024.
Mr. Daniells takes over from outgoing Managing Director, Mr. Rupert Bray, who has moved on to become Executive Director Senior of Swire Coca-Cola in Hong Kong.
This is not Mr. Daniells’ first stint in Papua New Guinea, having worked for Steamships Shipping Agencies as National Marketing Manager between 1998-1999.
He returns to the country with a wealth of experience in senior executive roles across various industries in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Europe, and Singapore.
Mr. Daniells expressed his excitement about returning to Papua New Guinea and leading Steamships into a new era of growth and development. “There has been significant progress and change since I was last in Port Moresby in the late 90’s,” he said. “I’m looking forward to continuing Steamships’ tradition of supporting PNG, investing in long-term commitments, and building sustainable and rewarding partnerships as we enter a new period of growth for the economy and the country.”
Mr. Daniells has been with Steamships since September 2023, serving as Chief Operating Officer before taking on the role of Managing Director. He has also held senior executive positions at Swire Shipping and Swire Projects.
The team at Steamships would like to wish Mr. Bray all the best in his new role and thank him for his invaluable contributions to the company during his six-year tenure as Managing Director. The company also bid farewell to Finance Director & Company Secretary Michael Scantlebury, who retires after nine years with Steamships. He will be replaced by Alessandro Mistroni, who joined the company in 2023 as Corporate Finance Manager.
“We have a strong team and an exciting road ahead,” said Mr. Daniells. “I’m confident that we will continue to build on the foundation established by Rupert and Michael, and I look forward to working with our team to drive growth and success for Steamships.”