Robert D. Somerville

Robert D. Somerville spent four decades at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), serving as Chief Executive Officer until April 2011 and remaining Chairman through April 2013; he also chaired ABS Group. He chaired the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) in 2005-2006.

He holds a bachelor's degree in marine engineering from Maine Maritime Academy, completed Harvard Business School's management development programme in 1987, and holds honorary degrees from Webb Institute and Maine Maritime Academy. He has served as an independent director of GasLog Ltd since 2011, as a trustee of Maine Maritime Academy and the Seaman's Church Institute, and on the Scientific Council of the Maria Tsakos Foundation since 2013.

He gave the keynote at Mare Forum USA in 2006 and 2008, and spoke at seven further Mare Forum events between 1999 and 2006.