Page 18: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1978)

Mobil Oil Corporation

Names Harmon Hoffmann

And Walter C. Mink Jr.

Harmon F. Hoffmann has been appointed vice president and gen- eral manager, Marketing, for Mo- bil Oil Corporation's U.S. Mar- keting and Refining Division, succeeding William V. Butler, who has elected early retirement at the end of this year.

Mr. Hoffmann, who since 1976 has served as general manager,

Marine Transportation, Middle

East Transportation and Supply, will be succeeded by Walter C.

Mink Jr. Mr. Mink rejoins Mobil

Oil as a vice president after serv- ing as president of Seabrokers,

Inc., and as a director of Sea- brokers' parent company, H.

Clarkson and Co., Ltd., London.

Mr. Butler joined Mobil in 1944 and held a number of marketing positions before being named gen- eral manager, West Coast Divi- sion, in 1966. Two years later, he was appointed general manager,

Resale Marketing. He was pro- moted to vice president and gen- eral manager in 1976.

Mr. Hoffmann joined Mobil in 1954. Before a transfer to the

Marine Transportation Depart- ment in 1972 as manager, Oper- ations and Charting, he was gen- eral manager, Planning and Fi-

Tom Degnan, vice president, tells how A&A works from a client's point of view: "We realize shipowners today who stand still are out of business in three years!' "To survive in today's climate of overabundant shipping, owners have to do one of two things: they can either tighten their belts or they can diversify, expand, look for new concepts. Our marine depart- ment has a tradition of innovation, and we can adapt regardless of trends. We'll continue to come up with the new ideas and create markets for new concepts. Our job is to anticipate all the needs of our worldwide clients and translate them into creative programs that fully protect them in any eventu- ality. We determine the exposures and get the best markets to cover them, negotiate difficult contracts, assist general averages, do com- puterized loss studies and work with government officials, environ- mentalists and marine architects on legislative matters. Our full- time job is doing whatever we can from the insurance side to help shipowners."

Working from a client's point of view is our way. In New York, where Tom Degnan heads the marine department. And in over 110 cities here and overseas. That means working as allies, solving business problems together.

Because our marine group is thoroughly diversified, with fully- staffed marine adjustment facili- ties and first-rate overseas correspondents, we can meet any client need through the whole spectrum of the maritime industry, from heavy hulls and river trans- portation to liners, charters, crude carriers, chemical ships and off- shore operations.

We think our dedication to acting as an ally of the clients we represent is a big reason why A&A has become a worldwide leader in the insurance brokerage and financial services business. We have the facilities, expertise and strength to act as effective allies.

We work from the client's point of view, whether « , , the corporation Alexander is large or ^Alexander small. V* i The Allies nancial Analysis for the then

North American Division.

In 1964, Mr. Mink joined Mobil

Oil as manager, Scheduling, Ma- rine Department. A few months later, he was named manager,

Traffic. In 1968, he joined Sea- brokers as executive vice presi- dent, chief operating officer and director. In 1976, he was elected president and chief executive of- ficer, retaining responsibilities as the company's chief operating officer.

Bird-Johnson Opens

Washington, D.C. Office

Robert C. Case

Bird-Johnson Company, Wal- pole, Mass., has opened an office in the Washington, D.C. area, lo- cated at 2300 Ninth Street, South,

Arlington, Va. 22204. It will be headed by Robert C. Case, who has been named director of spe- cial projects. "In this capacity," stated com- pany president Howard H. Scott, "Mr. Case will function as a liai- son with government agencies, providing both sales and technical support for all products marketed by the Marine and Fluid Power

Divisions. His involvement in ma- jor government programs during the past 12 years, and working knowledge of power transmission systems, is ideally suited to the responsibilities of this position."

Having joined Bird-Johnson in 1971, Mr. Case previously served as project manager for the DD963 and FFG programs. This entailed interfacing with the U.S. Navy on all aspects of the main propel- ler equipment supplied for these vessels, including contract nego- tiations, proposal preparation, technical support, financial man- agement and scheduling. Prior to this assignment, he was employed by Litton Industries as manager of system integration during the contract definition phase of the

FDL project, LHA project and

DD program. Mr. Case has also served within the U.S. Navy's

Propeller Design Code and Shaft- ing Branch, and has worked as

Chief of the Machinery Design

Branch for the United States

Coast Guard.

Having obtained his BME de- gree from New York State Mari- time College, he holds a P.E. li- cense in Washington, D.C. In ad- dition, full membership is held in

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, as well as the American Society of Naval

Engineers.