Ali Riaz has stepped down as CEO of maritime software company OrbitMI after seven years in the role, announcing that the company will continue operations under new leadership and a new private equity owner.
Mr Riaz was involved in the creation of OrbitMI when the company was spun out of Stena Bulk on 1 June 2019, following the development of its data platform within the shipowner. He will remain a shareholder in the business after leaving the CEO position. The identity of the private equity firm mentioned by Mr Riaz has not been disclosed.
OrbitMI’s software aggregates data from vessels and shore-based systems for analysis, with information delivered through dashboards and alerts. The company has subsequently developed integrations with other maritime software systems, including Dataloy’s voyage management platform.
In a statement announcing his departure, Mr Riaz said the company was established to address the growing complexity of maritime operations and the need to connect data with the people making operational decisions.
The company’s website lists former Western Bulk Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Egil Husby as its current CEO. Husby joined OrbitMI’s board as a Non Executive Director last year.
“When I entered this industry, people kept telling me: maritime is different. I will be honest, early on I was sceptical. Every industry says that. Financial services, Energy, Healthcare all says it. Somewhere along the way, I stopped pushing back and started paying attention. And they were right,” said Mr Riaz, in his statement.
“The way decisions get made, the relationship between human judgment and technology, the sheer weight of what this industry carries for the global economy, it is different. Distinct in ways that take time to feel, not just understand. And here is something that still strikes me: it is one of the most intimate industries I have encountered, where people genuinely know each other across companies and continents, and yet it is as global as any industry on earth. That combination is rare.”
“But what made it truly special is the people. At sea and on shore, across every timezone and every role, I met some of the finest professionals and human beings of my career. The ones who supported us, challenged us, partnered with us, and trusted us with their business. Simply the best.”
