Peninsula has welcomed its 2026 Graduate Cohort, bringing new entrants into roles across the company’s global maritime and bunkering operations.

The group gathered in Gibraltar for an induction week before taking up positions in Houston, Singapore, Gibraltar, Monaco and Las Palmas, across sales, back-to-back trading, cargo and operations teams.

The Graduate Programme is designed to combine structured training with hands-on experience, giving participants exposure to commercial work alongside more experienced colleagues within the business.

Elizabeth Munro, human resources business partner at Peninsula, remarked: “Our Graduate Programme is about investing in people at the beginning of their careers and giving them the foundations to develop, contribute and grow with the business. We want our graduates to be curious, take ownership of their development and make the most of the expertise and opportunities around them.”

Backgrounds spanning several disciplines

The 2026 cohort includes graduates with academic backgrounds in economics, finance, accounting, digital supply chain, maritime studies, international shipping and trade, and nautical science.

In Houston, Teguono Okotete has joined the sales team, Logan Wallrath has taken up a role in back-to-back trading, and Chris Savage is working in cargo. In Singapore, Keith Low has entered sales, while Chloe Pei Yi Chua has moved into back-to-back trading. Jean-Baptiste Aerts has joined the sales team in Monaco, and Marina Rubio Machuca has taken up a sales position in Las Palmas, with additional graduate placements in Gibraltar.

The group also welcomed Fletcher Marshall during induction week, who is Hercules Tanker Management’s first chartering graduate. Based in Gibraltar, Marshall is beginning a role focused on tanker ownership and chartering, drawing on expertise from both Hercules Tanker Management and Peninsula.

Steve McEwan, head of market risk for physical sales and graduate manager for Peninsula’s 2025 cohort, commented: “My advice to graduates is to embrace the opportunity. Peninsula has a really strong reputation and is one of the leaders in the industry, with a huge amount of knowledge across the business. It’s a fast-moving industry, but there is plenty of support and expertise available to anyone looking to pursue a career in bunkering.”

Industry exposure during induction

As part of induction week, the graduates visited the Gibraltar Port Authority and took part in an interactive session using the maritime simulator at the University of Gibraltar Maritime Academy, which is sponsored by both Peninsula and Hercules Tanker Management.

Peninsula and Hercules Tanker Management were among the organisations that funded the university’s Maritime Academy Simulation Centre, providing students and maritime professionals with access to simulation-based training.

Alicia Vallejo, cargo operations manager and graduate manager for Peninsula’s 2025 cohort, explained: “Giving graduates exposure to the wider maritime industry is an important part of their development. Understanding the environment in which our customers, vessels and partners operate helps bring their day-to-day roles to life and gives them a much broader perspective as they begin their careers.”

Programme continues beyond induction

Peninsula said the graduates will continue to be supported by dedicated managers and colleagues across its global network as they take on responsibilities within their respective teams.

The company described the programme as part of its approach to building capability for the future, combining meaningful responsibility with international exposure and access to experienced colleagues across the business.