Bijan Askarpur
How AkzoNobel’s sustainability standards proved a golden opportunity for Bijan Askarpour
Sustainability is at the heart of everything that AkzoNobel’s International® brand does.
It drives development of solutions and innovations, to enable the company to achieve the goal of supporting customers to ensure the long-term health of our oceans.
For Bijan Askarpour, his commitment to building awareness of our industry-leading environmental credentials across the Middle East contributed to him being awarded a Golden Propeller award in 2006.
As The Marine Manager Middle East and Africa he was responsible for the highest sales volume within the company – securing 51 LNG vessels at New Builds for Qatargas as well as securing M&R projects with NGSCO, Vela & Middle East covering VLCC and LNG vessels.
He recalls: “Being awarded the Golden Propeller was the highlight of my career in AkzoNobel. To receive it from our CEO at the time, Hans Wijers made it all the more special.”
Following 17 years in the British merchant navy, rising to the rank of Captain, Bijan joined International Paint (Gulf) LLC in 1987 as a Technical Support Representative in Dubai.
His extensive contacts across all the regional shipping lines that he had accumulated while at sea formed the basis for the long and successful career to come, during which he became renowned for being a passionate advocate of how the International brand’s environmentally sustainable systems could benefit operators.
This commitment to articulating the stand-out performance of products helped secure the Qatargas project – which in turn saw Bijan awarded the Golden Propeller award for the Middle East.
“A lot of long days and late nights went into the Qatargas project. But the truth of the matter is we would not have secured the business without the innovation that is at the heart of International coatings.
“Our environmental credentials were critical in pushing the deal over the line – as operators know they can trust our products to deliver stand-out savings in operating costs as well as helping them meet all their sustainability commitments.
"I’m immensely proud to work for a business that takes sustainability so seriously. Protecting the oceans is a responsibility the entire shipping industry shares."
And through the International brand’s commitment to innovation we are helping operators not only meet but surpass all regulations.
“AkzoNobel’s International brand has led the way for 140 years. It’s fouling control products are renowned worldwide. It’s the combination of the high esteem the company is held in and the proven performance of its coatings that allows sales teams and customers to have faith in every new development they bring to market.”
