LANGTON SHIPPING SERVICES - Key Persons


Michael Birley

Job Titles:
  • Group Managing Director
  • Founding Partner and Group Managing Director of the Langton Shipping Group
Michael has been working in bulk shipping for 43 years. Starting in 1975 with P and O Bulk Shipping in London he moved into dry cargo broking and spent 8 years with Anderson Hughes and then Thornton Chartering on the Baltic Exchange before moving to Asia to join Rodskog Shipbrokers in Hong Kong in 1983. He became more involved with sale and purchase and the contracting of newbuildings in China with Victoria Shipbrokers which he ran as Managing Director for 8 years after they became part of the Clarksons Group at the beginning of 1988. Returning to London in 1995, he continued in the Newbuilding sector as a Director of the Clarksons team in London until 2000. Michael returned to Hong Kong in 2007 to run Wallem's Shipbroking business. This developed into the Commercial Services Division which included providing Commercial Management to owners, investors and financial institutions, operating Bulkcarriers, Crude and Product Tankers, VLGC's and Cement Carriers and Container vessels in both the spot and period markets. The shipbroking business comprised newbuilding, 2nd hand sale and purchase and chartering for third parties. Michael is a Board Member of Alpha International (HK) and on the advisory board of International Care Ministries in Hong Kong. Michael is a founding partner and Group Managing Director of the Langton Shipping Group.

Patrick Lee

Job Titles:
  • General Manager

Rajesh Gadhia - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
Rajesh has 34 years' experience in shipping with over 7 years as Technical Director at the Wallem Shipmanagement a leading international ship manager. He provided leadership to geographically dispersed divisions, built teams that have driven bottom line objectives, grooming and nurturing talent to support growth from 100 ships in management in April 2006 to over 275 ships in November 2013. Rajesh sailed for 18 years starting with Scindia Steamships and then Wallem the last 8 years of which were in the rank of Chief Engineer on VLCC's. He came ashore in 1999 as a superintendent looking after Tankers in Wallem's Hong Kong office, became the Fleet Manager for Tankers, LPG, FSO, Methanol Carriers in 2004 and was appointed Technical Director in April 2006. He has hands on experience in all aspects of ship operations covering Crude, Product and Chemical Tankers, Bulkcarriers, Container and Reefer vessels and LPG and Car Carriers. This experience has provided him with strategic and situational leadership skills, which inspires teams to reach new heights. Rajesh has represented the Shipmanagement community at LR Technical Committee Meetings, Intercargo and Intertanko Meetings. He is a founding partner and Managing Director of Langton Shipmanagement Limited.