GTMaritime has transitioned
its business to an Employee Owned Trust (EOT),
in a deal securing the future of a true shipping
technology innovator.
The move to an EOT is an
exciting development which is set to incentivise
employees under the guidance of the management
team responsible for establishing GTMaritime as
a leading provider of secure data communications
software to the shipping industry. The structure
of the trust enables existing and future
employees to become direct beneficiaries of the
company’s continuing success.
Robert Kenworthy and Chris
Morgan, the owners of GTMaritime, sold their
majority stake in the company to an EOT that
will hold the shares for the benefit of
GTMaritime employees. Both remain on the Board
of Directors as CEO and Chairman and will
continue to be actively involved in the company,
with no changes to the existing management
structure.
Robert Kenworthy, CEO at
GTMaritime, said: “I am delighted to announce
that we have successfully completed the
transition to an Employee Owned Trust. Chris and
I remain fully committed to GTMaritime and we
look forward to working with the team and
helping to steer the company for many years to
come. From the start we have tried to instil a
company culture that ensures people are happy in
their work environment and I strongly believe
that if we look after our team, then they will
look after our customers.
“The EOT aligns exactly
with the inclusive and innovative culture that
is the foundation on which we have built the
business. It is the team providing reliable,
round-the-clock support for customers who have
worked so hard to achieve the GTMaritime success
story; going forward, it will be the team who
benefit as they take the business from strength
to strength.”
Managing Director at
GTMaritime, Chris Judge, said: “This is a really
exciting time for everyone at GTMaritime. Our
people are our greatest asset and without them
GTMaritime would not be where it is today. As a
company we have always worked as one and we
strongly believe that this will ensure our team
remain at the heart of our business. “In today’s
business environment we wanted to provide
stability and ensure the company’s continued
success; we wanted to have an operating model
that truly reflects the respect we have for our
colleagues and the contribution they make to
GTMaritime’s collaborative culture of
innovation. This is a wonderful opportunity for
everyone and we look forward to continuing to
work together and build for the future.”