Dutchman Chiel de Leeuw has been appointed as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Econowind. He is to increase the presence of the manufacturer of wind-powered marine propulsion systems in the market.
De Leeuw brings with him a wealth of experience from the maritime industry. He was previously Commercial Director at yacht company Oceano and Sales Director at Damen Shipyards Group.
In his new role as CCO, De Leeuw “will be instrumental in driving Econowind’s business strategy and further expanding the company’s global presence,” the company said. His extensive experience in sales, business development and strategic partnerships will help Econowind to “revolutionise” the maritime industry with sustainable and cost-efficient technologies.
“We are very pleased to welcome Chiel to the Econowind leadership team,” said CEO Frank Nieuwenhuis. “With his extensive industry knowledge and business acumen, he is the perfect fit to lead our commercial efforts as we continue to expand our innovative solutions and support the maritime industry’s transition to greener operations. Shipping companies achieve the highest wind yield per square meter in the industry with our Ventofoils.”
Wind power for sustainable shipping
“I am delighted to join Econowind at this pivotal time in the company’s development,” said De Leeuw on his appointment as CCO. “The maritime sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation and I look forward to contributing to Econowind’s vision of making shipping more sustainable. It is inspiring to see shipping companies increasingly introducing wind-assisted marine propulsion systems on their vessels. I am convinced that this will become the norm in the industry.”
The first shipping companies have already installed the technology on some ships for test runs, for example NYK Bulkship Atlantic on the bulker “Margitte” and the container shipping company ONE on the feeder “Kalamazoo”.
Econowind plans larger suction sails
With the appointment of Chiel de Leeuw, Econowind reinforces its commitment to providing innovative solutions that help shipowners and operators reduce fuel consumption and emissions and align with global decarbonisation goals. Building on the success of the 16-metre-high “Suction Sails”, the company is now developing larger Ventofoils that will be 24 to 30 metres high.
