Ian Webber, the CEO of containerships shipowner Global Ship Lease, has announced he will retire from the CEO role he has held since the company’s inception in 2007 and will join GSL’s board of directors.
Webber will join GSL’s board of directors from March expanding the size of the board to nine members.
Thomas Lister, who also joined the Company in 2007 and has held a number of senior executive roles, has been appointed to succeed Webber as CEO, effective concurrently with Webber’s retirement.
Thomas Lister was part of the management team that took GSL public in August 2008, and has served as chief commercial officer of the company since then, having also served as chief financial officer from 2017–2018 in the lead-up to GSL’s transformational combination with Poseidon Containers.
Since 2019, Lister has also led GSL’s decarbonization initiatives. Prior to joining GSL, he worked in asset finance, banking, and liner shipping.
George Youroukos, Global Ship Lease executive chairman commented, “Over the last 16 years as CEO of Global Ship Lease, Ian oversaw the Company’s listing on the NYSE in 2008, guided it safely through the most challenging period the containership industry has ever experienced, and was fully committed to ensuring that the transformative merger with Poseidon Containers in 2018 was a success. Global Ship Lease has become a larger, stronger, and more valuable company on his watch.”
“I am delighted that we can maintain continuity and GSL’s positive momentum as Tom Lister transitions into the CEO role. Tom not only knows the Company inside and out, but also has deep expertise across our industry, having started his career in liner shipping before moving into banking, asset finance, and ship leasing.”
Thomas Lister commented, “The industry is at an inflection point, which will present both challenges to address and opportunities for the Company to embrace. With the support of our excellent teams at sea, on shore, and in the boardroom, this is an exciting time to be taking the reins at Global Ship Lease.”
