Sterling Shipping, a young ambitious company, aims to grow its fleet and diversify with the appointment of James Lightbourn as partner and chief financial officer.
Malta-based dry bulk owner Sterling appointed James Lightbourn as he will focus on bolstering Sterling’s capital base, growing its fleet, and diversifying into additional shipping sectors.
The company currently owns a fleet of four kamsarmax bulk carriers and has further growth ambitions.
The new partner, with his experience leading investments in diverse transportation assets over the past decade, “is poised to usher Sterling into an exciting next chapter of growth.”
Most recently James Lightbourn advised on capital raises and strategies as an investment banker at Arctic Securities, where he worked with transportation companies including Sterling, in accordance with the company Sterling.
As the company notes, James Lightbourn worked as the investment director for the private investment company B T Larsen & Co Ltd that sponsored Norse and served as a board advisor for the group’s publicly listed ship owning company ADS Maritime Holdings Plc, and ship management company OSM Maritime Group.
With a reach business portfolio in his suitcases Mr. Lightbourn is believed to be a valuable partner to Sterling.
“James has played an integral role in supporting Sterling from its very first days and I can think of no one better to partner with to take the company to the next level,” said Christopher Fjeld, founder and chief executive of Sterling Shipping Ltd.
Lightbourn was a senior associate with Alterna Capital Partners and earned his credit training, as the company informs, from CIT Bank N.A. where he was an assistant vice president on the maritime finance desk. He was recruited into CIT after appraising vessels that served as the bank’s collateral as a shipbroker with Compass Maritime Services.
James was CFO of start-up transatlantic airline Norse Atlantic Airways, whilst he started his career working for the container line Mediterranean Shipping Company.
