Management-Team
Executive
Dr Hermann J. Klein
CEO of E.R. Schiffahrt and of Blue Star Holding and Managing Director of E.R. Capital Holding
Until the end of 2010, Dr Hermann J. Klein was a member of the Germanischer Lloyd (GL) Executive Board and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2011. Since 2005, Dr Klein has also been chairman of the Board for the Schiffbautechnische Gesellschaft (STG –German Society for Marine Technology).
He studied shipbuilding and mechanical engineering at the University of Hanover and business studies at the FernUniversität in Hagen. He spent many years working as a scientist and engineer at several leading German shipbuilding and engine research institutes in various departments. In 1992, he received his doctorate in engineering from the Hamburg University of Technology.
Nils Aden
Managing Director of E.R. Schiffahrt
As managing director of E.R. Schiffahrt and a member of the E.R. Schiffahrt Management Board Nils Aden is responsible for chartering, marine operations, and marine accounting and as such for the operations of the container and bulk vessel fleet.
After completing his studies in business economics at the Wirtschaftsakademie Hamburg and the Nordakademie, Nils Aden began his career in the Controlling and Strategic Distribution Management department of Vereins- und Westbank AG in Hamburg. Later, in 2001, he moved to the Harren & Partner shipping line in Bremen. Before being appointed managing director of E.R. Schiffahrt, Nils Aden served for six years in a series of executive positions within the corporate Group, most recently as manager of Customer Relations.
Frank Bergert
CFO of E.R. Schiffahrt and of E.R. Capital Holding and Managing Director of Blue Star Holding
Frank Bergert is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of E.R. Schiffahrt and of E.R. Capital Holding and Managing Director of Blue Star Holding. He is responsible for the Group’s entire commercial activities. This includes controlling, cooperation with banks, managing foreign exchange and interest, and controlling liquidity. He is also in charge of risk management, internal audit, organisation and IT services.
A banker by training and a commercial graduate (Diplom-Kaufmann), he began his career at Jungheinrich AG, where he was in charge of finance, among other things. In 1998 he joined Hapag-Lloyd AG. As Director of Finance he was responsible for all of the Group’s financial activities, including IPO and M&A activities. Mr. Bergert has been with E.R. Schiffahrt since 2004 and was appointed a Managing Director in 2005.
Willem Dekker
Managing Director of E.R. Schiffahrt and of Blue Star Holding
As Managing Director of E.R. Schiffahrt and member of the E.R. Schiffahrt Management Board Willem Dekker is responsible for contracting of new tonnage for the company and the subsequent follow-up until delivery of the new vessels. In addition, Mr Dekker is responsible for the development of new shipping projects within E.R. Schiffahrt.
After studying business administration at the Henley Business School in the UK, Mr. Dekker began his career with the Royal Nedlloyd Group. He then moved to Nedlloyd Lines (P&O Nedlloyd), where he was in charge of chartering the container vessels and of ship procurement. Mr. Dekker has been with E.R. Schiffahrt since 2003.
Marc Gunther Schmidt
Managing Director of E.R. Ship Management GmbH & Cie. KG
Marc Gunther Schmidt is the managing director of E.R. Ship Management GmbH & Cie. KG which specializes in crewing and sea services and is a subsidiary of E.R. Schiffahrt. In this position, he is responsible for the company’s maritime personnel.
After training as a ship’s mechanic with Schiffahrtskontor tom Wörden/Oldendorff, Marc Schmidt completed his training as a nautical officer and earned his certification as a master mariner. He also holds an MBA in Shipping & Logistics from Middlesex University in London. From 2001 to 2006, he served on various container vessels of E.R. Schiffahrt, most recently as first officer. In 2006, he assumed the position of marine superintendent with Marlow Ship Management Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG in Hamburg before returning to E.R. Schiffahrt in 2008.
Ian Perrott
Managing Director of E.R. Offshore
As Chief Executive Officer Ian Perrott is responsible for the offshore division at E.R. Schiffahrt. In this function he is in charge of chartering and marketing of the fleet of platform supply and anchor handling vessels.
Mr. Perrott has worked in shipping since 1976 and in the offshore business since 1982. In the course of his career he worked for five years as an offshore broker for Stewart Offshore Services Ltd. in London and Aberdeen. In Aberdeen he then managed the chartering business of Maersk Co. Ltd.’s North Sea AHTS fleet. In 1990 he moved to Sealion Shipping Ltd., serving as Commercial Director and Joint Managing Director. Mr. Perrott has been with E.R. Offshore since July 2009.
Non Executive
Nicholas Teller
CEO of E.R. Capital Holding
Since August 2008 Nicholas Teller has been Chief Executive Officer of E.R. Capital Holding, the financial holding company and shareholder in Reederei E.R. Schiffahrt, the investment company Nordcapital and the private equity company equitrust AG.
After studying business management at the University of Birmingham he began his professional career by joining Commerzbank in London in 1982. In 1994 he was appointed Head of the Commerzbank’s Prague location, and in 1999 the bank appointed him Regional Director for Northern Germany, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, in charge of the group’s shipping division. From April 2003 until the end of May 2008 he was a member of the board at Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt, where he was responsible for the Corporates and Markets department (Investment Banking).
