Chief Executive Officer
Robert Burke
Westport, CT
Email: RBurke@ridgeburytankers.com
After graduating from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Bob spent three years sailing US-flagged tankers as a ship’s officer. This gave him plenty of time - while studying the horizon - to think of other more dynamic aspects of the global shipping business. Coming ashore to obtain his MBA at Columbia, Bob enjoyed a number of operating and banking roles before joining GE Capital, where he ultimately ran the maritime structured finance division. After founding and running Great Circle Capital with Hew in 2000, Bob left to organize the highly successful purchase of Chembulk, where he served as CEO until the firm was sold in early 2008.
Fun fact: Bob’s maritime life began at age twelve, working at the family’s drydock and repair yard, Union Dry Dock – which operated as the last such facility along the New Jersey waterfront until its sale in 2017.