Geneva-based broker Lightship Chartering is reconfiguring its senior leadership set-up as it prepares for another stage of expansion in the dry bulk market, while at the same time reinforcing the internal structure that has supported its rise as an established participant in international shipbroking. Lightship Chartering has raised long-serving Chief Executive Officer Sune Fladberg to Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (BOD), a development that moves his attention away from everyday executive oversight and toward broader strategic planning, business growth and longer-term corporate direction. At the same time, Geneva-based shipbroker Lightship Chartering has appointed maritime veteran Mark Roberts as Chief Executive Officer of its chartering division, giving him responsibility for the daily management of the business as Lightship Chartering works to strengthen its position across the dry bulk segment. The Lightship Chartering BOD (Board of Directors) will now function under the leadership of chairman Morten Have, with Mads Have and Sune Fladberg acting as vice chairmen, as Lightship Chartering aims to sharpen governance standards, widen oversight and maintain the managerial discipline required for sustained development. Sune Fladberg is expected to take on a prominent role in major assignments and long-term strategic programmes, reducing his involvement in routine operational management after playing a central role in building Lightship Chartering’s profile in the dry bulk field. This transition represents more than a simple change of titles, as it also signals an effort by Lightship Chartering to shape a leadership structure more suitable for a larger and more ambitious organisation. Mark Roberts joins with more than 20 years of experience covering shipbroking, operational management and maritime technology. Mark Roberts most recently held the role of group Chief Operating Officer and executive director at SPI Marine, and before that spent six years on the main board at Clarksons. Mark Roberts began his career in financial markets at Bloomberg and later established maritime technology ventures centred on commercial decision-making, giving Lightship Chartering a senior executive whose experience spans traditional broking, board-level management and shipping technology. These changes come as Geneva-based broker Lightship Chartering seeks to extend its growth path, with plans to appoint three external BOD (Board of Directors) members during 2026 in order to widen supervision and introduce additional industry expertise, according to Lightship Chartering. The broader importance of these developments is closely linked to the evolution of Lightship Chartering itself. Lightship Chartering has built a reputation as a specialist shipbroker with a meaningful presence in dry bulk chartering, operating from Geneva while serving an international client base across major commodity and freight markets. Over time, Lightship Chartering has developed an identity associated with commercial market knowledge, strong relationships with shipowners and charterers, and an ability to adjust its organisation as freight markets become more demanding, more competitive and increasingly shaped by data-led decision-making. In a sector where relationships, market intelligence and speed of execution remain essential, Lightship Chartering has sought to combine the traditional strengths of shipbroking with a more contemporary management model. That helps explain why Lightship Chartering is not only redistributing executive duties, but also reshaping the make-up of the BOD (Board of Directors) and preparing to introduce outside directors during 2026. Such a move indicates that Lightship Chartering sees its future not simply in preserving an entrepreneurial broking platform, but in strengthening governance as the business grows in size and organisational complexity. The decision to move Sune Fladberg into the role of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (BOD) is particularly meaningful in that context. Sune Fladberg has been closely connected to the expansion of Lightship Chartering’s dry bulk presence, and his continuing role at board level means that Lightship Chartering is preserving strategic continuity while reallocating executive authority. Rather than cutting ties with the leadership that helped shape the business, Lightship Chartering appears to be retaining that experience and directing it toward wider commercial opportunities, major projects and long-term priorities. This sort of transition can be especially valuable in shipbroking, where personal credibility, market understanding and institutional memory often form an important part of competitive strength. At the same time, the arrival of Mark Roberts suggests that Lightship Chartering is increasing its focus on management depth and operational performance. Mark Roberts brings a background that stretches beyond traditional broking into operations, board-level oversight and maritime technology, qualities that may prove valuable as Lightship Chartering navigates a market environment shaped not only by freight volatility but also by digitalisation, performance analytics and changing customer expectations. With dry bulk markets requiring brokers to react quickly to shifts in commodity flows, fleet availability, port delays, regulation and voyage economics, the combination of strategic continuity at board level and refreshed executive leadership may provide Lightship Chartering with a firmer base for future expansion. The revised governance framework also shows that Lightship Chartering is thinking carefully about how to support growth without weakening oversight. Under the updated arrangement, chairman Morten Have will lead the Lightship Chartering BOD (Board of Directors), while Mads Have and Sune Fladberg will serve as vice chairmen. That structure points to a more layered board model designed to support both strategic decision-making and executive accountability. Lightship Chartering’s stated intention to add three external BOD (Board of Directors) members during 2026 goes even further, showing a desire to bring in fresh viewpoints, greater independence and broader industry knowledge. In shipping, where governance standards are attracting increasing scrutiny from counterparties, financiers and other stakeholders, the addition of external directors can also help demonstrate that a business is preparing itself for a more substantial position in the market. For Lightship Chartering, this appears to form part of a wider effort to align corporate structure with commercial ambition. The overall impression created by these developments is that Lightship Chartering is deliberately preparing itself for a larger role. Geneva-based broker Lightship Chartering is moving to strengthen its leadership base, refine its governance framework and prepare for the next phase of development in dry bulk shipbroking. By shifting Sune Fladberg toward strategic and business development responsibilities, appointing Mark Roberts to oversee day-to-day management, and planning to widen the board with external members, Lightship Chartering is presenting itself as a business pursuing expansion in a more disciplined and structured manner. In a market where dry bulk conditions can change quickly and where scale, expertise and governance all carry growing importance, Lightship Chartering appears to be laying the groundwork for a bigger and more institutionally developed future while preserving the broking experience and commercial presence that helped establish its name. 16-April-2026
Geneva-based shipbroker Lightship Chartering has recruited 10 shipbrokers from competing firms to reestablish its Genoa office after a two-year hiatus. Led by CEO Sune Fladberg, Lightship Chartering indicates that these new hires will soon be complemented by additional team members in Q4 2024. Lightship Chartering has brought on board 10 shipbrokers from rival brokerage firms to strengthen its operations in panamax bulk carriers while enhancing its established business in handysize and supramax bulk carriers. Seven of the new recruits specialize in panamax markets, and most of them will be assigned to the Genoa office, which is reopening after being closed for two years. Lightship Chartering is a prominent player in the global shipping market, providing a range of brokerage services that include chartering, sales and purchase transactions, and market intelligence. The company’s strategic focus on expanding its expertise in various vessel segments has positioned it as a versatile partner for clients across the maritime industry. By reintegrating its Genoa office, Lightship Chartering aims to leverage its strategic location to better serve Mediterranean and European markets, which are critical to the panamax and smaller bulk segments. Geneva-based shipbroker Lightship Chartering’s proactive approach to recruitment and office expansion reflects its commitment to adapting to market dynamics and enhancing service delivery. Lightship Chartering’s growth strategy not only focuses on geographical expansion but also on diversifying its service offerings to meet the evolving needs of its clients. With a reputation for integrity and in-depth market knowledge, Lightship Chartering continues to build a robust network of industry relationships that facilitate effective solutions for complex shipping challenges. 16-October-2024
CEO Sune Fladberg-led Shipbroker Company Lightship Chartering aims to kick-start the tanker business after the Genoa office walkout. Shipbroker Company Shipbroker Lightship Chartering desires to expand the company’s shipbroking activities in the tanker sector despite the closure of its Genoa office after seven (7) shipbrokers quit. All seven (7) shipbrokers quit and started their careers at a rival shipbroker company. Lightship Chartering intends to enlarge the company’s network and will boost Lightship Chartering’s global headcount in 2022. Shipbroker Company Lightship Chartering approved that the company has parted ways with seven (7) shipbrokers and are closing down in Genoa office. Lightship Chartering was established in 1975 and has been a panel shipbroker for the Baltic Exchange. Lightship Chartering has been active in both dry and wet markets. Lightship Chartering has been planning to enter the Sale and Purchase (S&P) market. 11-August-2022
Shipbroker Company Lightship Chartering tanker shipbrokers have s poached for a new Simpson Spence Young (SSY) office in Genoa. Simpson Spence Young (SSY) hired the whole tanker shipbroker team from its rival Lightship Chartering, which will leave Lightship Chartering without a presence in Genoa. Shipbroking giant Simpson Spence Young (SSY) has announced that the company’s new Genoa office will be staffed with a team from its rival Lightship Chartering. Seven (7) tanker shipbrokers from Lightship Chartering will join Simpson Spence Young (SSY) Genoa office when it opens on 1 September 2022. Simpson Spence Young (SSY) Genoa office will be managed by Luca Domenico Capitanio and Luca Sambataro, who will make up the panamax team with Paolo Bovenga. Luca Domenico Capitanio was one of the Lightship Chartering shipbrokers moving to Simpson Spence Young (SSY) Genoa office. Luca Domenico Capitanio will manage the new Simpson Spence Young (SSY) Genoa office with Luca Sambataro on the panamax team. 10-August-2022
Geneva-based Lightship Chartering named Genco Shipping & Trading MD Sune Fladberg as new CEO. Sune Fladberg had been working at Genco Shipping & Trading since May 2018. In order to have a division of labor in Lightship Chartering, previous CEO Morten Have stepped down and will recommence as a shipbroker. In a shipbroker company, working as a shipbroker and managing the company as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is practically unachievable. Lightship Chartering took away a praiseworthy shipbroker to be a CEO. However, Lightship Chartering required an appropriate CEO to manage the company and foresee future opportunities. Sune Fladberg has been in the shipping industry for a long time. Unfortunately, Sune Fladberg appointed as CEO at a time of coronavirus recession when some offices are closed. Lightship Chartering has offices in Athens, Beijing, Copenhagen, Dubai, Geneva, Genoa, London, and Oslo. Most of the shipbrokers have been working from homes during coronavirus pandemic and they are safely connected to cargoes for its chartering operations. In March 2020, both tankers and bulk carriers had their best month since the beginning of 2020. Tanker markets have been exceptionally strong. Furthermore, Lightship Chartering has been plotting to open an office in the Middle East, India, Japan, or China until the end of 2020. Lightship Chartering has been plotting to recruit new shipbrokers to new offices. Lightship Chartering was established in 1975 and has been a panel shipbroker for the Baltic Exchange. Lightship Chartering has been active in both dry and wet markets. Lightship Chartering has been planning to enter the Sale and Purchase (S&P) market. Recently, Lightship Chartering appointed Susanne Bonde as CFO (Chief Financial Officer). 12-April-2020
Lightship Chartering opened a new office in London to serve in dry bulk and clean product markets. CEO Morten Have has already selected 9 shipbrokers. Lightship Chartering hired well-known shipbrokers from Clarksons. CEO Morten Have is projecting to double the size of the London office. Besides the London office, Lightship Chartering has offices in Copenhagen, Athens, Oslo, and Geneva. In 2016, Lightship Chartering walked into the clean products tanker market. 2-April-2017