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Joe Kramek to replace retiring John Butler at WSC

The World Shipping Council (WSC)’s director, US government relations, Joe Kramek will take the role of president and CEO of the liner shipping NGO in July when the long-serving John Butler is due to retire.

Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent

April 18, 2024

1 Min Read
Joe Kramek and John Butler at WSC
Joe Kramek and John ButlerPhoto: WSC

Kramek took on his present role at the WSC in March 2021 after a 28-year stint at the US Coastguard in a number of positions, including as a commissioned officer and chief of maritime International & Environmental Law. He also led the US Coastguard’s delegation at the IMO’s legal committee.

Kramek said he was looking to build on the foundations built by John Butler in hi nine-year tenure as CEO at WSC: “Together with the dedicated team at WSC, I look forward to addressing the evolving needs of the shipping industry and continue driving positive change.”

John Butler praised the CEO elect: "I am confident that with Joe's extensive experience and committed leadership, WSC will continue to flourish and develop even further, and I wish him, and the entire team continued success in the years ahead."

Kramek and Butler will work together until the end of July to implement the WSC’s succession plan with Kramek assuming his new position on 1 August.

John Butler has led the WSC during the crucial period for the maritime sector, when the IMO critically adopted its first and second decarbonisation plans in 2018 and 2023, and through a troubled period in 2020 when container ships were seeing many containers lost at sea.

About the Author

Nick Savvides

Europe correspondent

Experienced journalist working online, in monthly magazines and daily news coverage. Nick Savvides began his journalistic career working as a freelance from his flat in central London, and has since worked in Athens, while also writing for some major publications including The Observer, The European, Daily Express and Thomson Reuters. 

Most recently Nick joined The Loadstar as the publication’s news editor to develop the profile of the publication, increase its readership and to build a team that will market, sell and report on supply chain issues and container shipping news. 

This was a similar brief to his time at ci-online, the online publication for Containerisation International and Container News. During his time at ci-online Nich developed a team of freelancers and full-time employees increasing its readership substantially. He then moved to International Freighting Weekly, a sister publication, IFW also focused on container shipping, rail and trucking and ports. Both publications were published by Informa. 

Following his spell at Informa Nick joined Reed’s chemical reporting team, ICIS, as the chemical tanker reporter. While at ICIS he also reported on the chemical industry and spent some time on the oil & gas desk. 

Nick has also worked for a time at Lloyd’s Register, which has an energy division, and his role was writing their technical magazine, before again becoming a journalist at The Naval Architect for the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. After eight successful years at RINA, he joined Fairplay, which published a fortnightly magazine and daily news on the website.

Nick's time at Fairplay saw him win the Seahorse Club Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year 2018 awards.

After Fairplay closed, Nick joined an online US start-up called FreightWaves. 

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