AdvanFort Names Axel Tuetken Global VP Sales and Business Development

Washington, D.C., August 8, 2013—The AdvanFort Company today announced that Axel Tuetken, its business development director for Northern Europe, has been chosen for the private maritime security leader’s newly-created global position of Vice President for Sales and Business Development.

The decision to appoint Tuetken, the former country president in Tokyo for Maersk Line and Safmarine, comes as AdvanFort was instrumental in putting together a growing sales team for the Asia market, where—as the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recently revealed—Southeast Asia was the region reporting the highest number of pirate attacks, with 57 cases in the first six months of 2013.

“AdvanFort’s reputation as an industry leading Private Maritime Security Company— combined with Axel Tuetken’s emergence as a key leader in AdvanFort’s carefully-calibrated effort to offer best-practice services at an affordable cost to a growing number of clients—comes as our company has been able to attract a truly remarkable team in Asia, reflecting in part Axel’s own reputation there and in other parts of the world,” said AdvanFort President William H. Watson.

“We are very happy to welcome Ken Park, Shinobu Yamazoe, and Jimmy Chan, who are sure to be key players in our continued efforts to help protect the free and peaceful flow of commerce around the world.”

Watson pointed out that nearly four decades working for the world’s largest maritime shipping company puts Ken Park, the former President and Representative Director for both Maersk Korea Limited and Safmarine Korea, in a unique position as the representative in Korea for one of the world’s most respected private maritime security companies.

Shinobu Yamazoe is similarly qualified to help AdvanFort maintain and accelerate its growth in terms of new business acquisition, Watson added, given his experience as a general agent for Safmarine Container Lines N.V. (a member of the A.P.Moller-Maersk Group), where he acquired both deep industry knowledge and GM-level relationships with key clients in Japan.

“Shinobu’s more than 35 years working for Maersk is proof that sales are not just due to good products and good prices; relationships are a major factor, with communication a significant predictor not only of where those relationships are headed, but also the possibilities that exist in mutual respect for the bottom line,” Watson noted.

As AdvanFort’s sales representative in Singapore, Jimmy Chan exemplifies this company’s proactive understanding that key to our own success is seizing opportunities to embrace our customers and to build sustainable relationships of mutual trust and genuine concern in the maritime community.

Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Jimmy has held key country sales positions throughout South East Asia, working in the maritime, offshore and oil & gas industries. His work in Indonesia, East Malaysia and China is of special note due to its successful penetration of some of the region’s toughest markets, reflective perhaps of his 17 years of service in the Republic of Singapore Navy.

“I’m very encouraged to see that Ken Park, Shin Yamazoe, and Jimmy Chan have decided to join our global sales team,” said Axel Tuetken. “With these experienced people AdvanFort will be able to open new markets and at the same time be able to serve our ever growing number of clients even better in the future.

“With the shipping knowledge Ken, Shin, and Jimmy bring to the table, AdvanFort is in the position to offer our customers what they are looking for – reliable, affordable service, and quick response to protect their assets.”