Senior Management

The Ridgebury team is experienced and disciplined, but also enthusiastic and entrepreneurial. Formed in 2013 by partners who had largely worked together over the previous 15 years, we are all fully invested – professionally and financially – in our quest to create value, not just acquire assets. Starting from scratch, in our first year we acquired 15 high-quality ships in nine transactions in eight countries, while building out a first-class organization and operating platform.

Robert Burke

Chief Executive Officer

Raised in a shipping family, Bob’s subsequent education and professional life have been entirely dedicated to the industry. Coming ashore in 1983 after several years as a ship’s officer, Bob has since enjoyed every aspect of the business over the past 30 years, from operations to finance, management and ownership

Hew Crooks

Chief Financial Officer

Hew has operated, financed and invested across every corner of the maritime sector globally, including shipping, ports, terminals, offshore oil support and other infrastructure. His experience as an investor, owner and manager ranges from New York to South America, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia, India and Africa.

Steven Fitzgerald

VP Operations

Steve brings a deep background in maritime operations and sales positions with experience at leading companies in the US, Norway and the Middle East, complemented by expertise in risk management and finance from his time at GE Capital.

Walter Bromfield

VP Finance

Walt brings a wealth of experience from a 25+ year career at Maritrans, where he began as an accounting manager and finished as CFO. He went on to complete successful assignments as CFO at two private equity-backed shipping companies.

David Burke

VP ENGINEERING 

David brings vast experience across the engineering, technical and operational management sector.  His 30 plus years of experience include sailing aboard US flagged ships as an engineering officer and service as a US Naval Officer.