Meet the Senior Leadership Team
Managing Director
Peter was appointed to the board as “port agency & hub managing director” in November 2018 followed by promotion to group managing director in November 2019.
Peter joined Cory Brothers Shipping Agency in 1998 as a trainee ships agent and has undertaken roles within hub agency, port agency management and business development. His final role, prior to joining the board, was commercial director, leading all major contracts for port agency & hub.
Peter sits on the boards of Constantine & Company (Exports) Limited, Vertom Shipping UK Limited, Fred Olsen Freight Limited as well as the VertomCory Group, which holds Cory Brothers Shipping Agency Ltd.
Furthermore, Peter resides in the non-profit role of trustee board member of Home-Start in Suffolk, of which he is an active supporter.
Financial Director
David graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, before joining Unilever (based at their head office) and training as an accountant.
David enjoyed a variety of supply chain and finance roles, spanning more than 13 years. David was then recruited to the Canadian landing gear company, Heroux Devtek as their UK financial controller.
In early 2017, David moved to Cory Brothers as finance director and heads up all group financial activity.
Compliance Director
Sean started his ships agency career in 1990 as a ships agent in Southampton with the well-established company ‘Wainwright Brothers’.
In 1995, Sean moved to OBC Shipping and was appointed manager in 1997. OBC were acquired by GAC in 2008 and Sean O’Brien remained in their employ until July 2014, when
an opportunity arose to join Cory Brothers Southampton as branch manager. In February 2018, Sean was promoted to ‘head of operations, UK’ in order to provide central operational management for the UK business. Latterly, the role was further expanded and Sean was appointed ‘director-operations’ with the additional responsibility of overseeing the Cory Brothers international offices.
In March 2020, Sean was appointed to ‘director of compliance’ with the added responsibility of leading all compliance, sanctions and ISO processes for the group.
Liner Director
Jenny Butler was appointed as liner director in 2021, having previously worked for Cory Brothers for almost a decade, where she started her career in shipping in the 2000’s.
Jenny oversees all group liner activities, ensuring a dedicated, high quality focus that includes commercial, customer services, operations and documentation activities. Providing additional experience, gained from five years with a leading global shipping line, Jenny has utilised her knowledge and skills to successfully manage high profile, key infrastructure and development projects, including involvement with the entire supply chain process.
Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, a foundation degree in international trade and a variety of industry based qualifications.
Agency Director
Neil began his career in the shipping industry in 1981 as an import customs clerk, working for the Herbert Watson Group. After working for another small forwarding company, Neil progressed to import customs manager at Ackerley’s, a large liner agency.
Following Cory Brothers acquisition of Ackerley’s, in 1986, Neil was transferred to the ships agency department before leaving to gain more experience with other companies overseas. In 2007, Neil re-joined Cory Brothers as the manager of the Mersey ships agency department and was latterly promoted to agency director in 2018.
Neil has held the role of chairman for SCUSA, the Ship Canal User’s and Shipowners Association, for over a decade.
Logistics Director
James joined Cory Brothers in 2017 having previously enjoyed both commercial and operational roles within the freight forwarding and carrier sectors.
Starting at Cory Brothers as the UK commercial manager, James was swiftly promoted to logistics director in 2019.
A previous finalist of the BIFA young freight forwarder of the year awards, James has continued to progress and gained additional experience working overseas throughout Asia, Europe and the USA.
Group Legal Counsel
& Company
Secretary
Martin is Group Legal Counsel & Company Secretary providing services across the entire VertomCory group.
He is a dual-qualified lawyer with broad international legal and compliance experience across different industries.
Martin previously worked for Braemar Shipping Services Plc, CME Group, Bridgestone, Praxair (now Linde) and Movistar. Prior to moving to the UK, he was included in the 2017 GC Powerlist by The Legal 500 as one of the most innovative and influential legal counsels in Argentina and the region.
Commercial Director
Guy returned to Cory Brothers Shipping Agency Ltd., as Commercial Director on 1st January 2022 having previously worked with Cory Brothers from March 1990 to August 2013.
Guy’s first stint at Cory Brothers started as a Boarding Agent before soon being promoted to Thames Agency Manager in 1997 and playing a significant role in the development of the in-house ShipTrak operational & finance platform, along with Hub Agency, and has undertaken roles within Hub Agency, Port Agency Management and Business Development.
His current role as commercial director involves leading all major contracts for Port Agency & Hub activity. Guy resides as committee member on the London River Users Association is an avid sports fan in particular of football & golf.
Head of HR
Marta was appointed in February 2022 as Global Head of HR.
Having previously worked in various sectors, including both private and public (including government agencies), Marta provides a wealth of well-rounded experience and definitive HR people skills.
Multi-lingual and CIPD qualified, Marta loves working with people, is friendly, approachable and enjoys travel, art & music.
Director Americas
Jared started in shipping as a boarding agent for Maritime, processing chemical and liquid bulk vessels.
Throughout his career, Jared has worked with several agencies in Houston, learning the intricacies for multiple types of vessel and commodities over the years.
Jared joined Cory Brothers at the beginning of 2015 as an operations manager, and has since climbed the ranks to be general manager and now director of the region.
