Peninsula has welcomed its 2026 Graduate Cohort, bringing together emerging talent from around the world as part of its continued investment in developing the next generation of professionals across the global maritime and bunkering industries.
The graduates recently came together in Gibraltar for a dedicated induction week before beginning roles across Houston, Singapore, Gibraltar, Monaco and Las Palmas, joining teams across sales, back-to-back trading, cargo and operations.
The Graduate Programme combines structured development with hands-on experience, giving participants opportunities to build commercial knowledge, learn from experienced colleagues and develop a deeper understanding of the global maritime industry.
“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.” Elizabeth Munro, Human Resources Business Partner.
Building careers across a global industry
The 2026 cohort brings together graduates with backgrounds spanning economics, finance, accounting, digital supply chain, maritime studies, international shipping and trade, and nautical science. They will now put that knowledge into practice across Peninsula’s bunkering global network, gaining experience in different areas of the business.
In Houston, Teguono Okotete joins Sales, Logan Wallrath joins Back-to-Back Trading and Chris Savage joins Cargo. In Singapore, Keith Low joins Sales and Chloe Pei Yi Chua joins Back-to-Back Trading. Jean-Baptiste Aerts joins the Sales team in Monaco, while Marina Rubio Machuca joins Sales in Las Palmas, alongside the cohort’s graduate placements in Gibraltar.
Joining the group during induction week was Fletcher Marshall, Hercules Tanker Management’s first Chartering Graduate. Based in Gibraltar, Fletcher is beginning an HTM-focused graduate role where he will build his experience in tanker ownership and chartering, while benefiting from the expertise across both HTM and Peninsula.
“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. Peninsula is a great place to work and advance your career.” Steve McEwan, Head of Market Risk for Physical Sales and Graduate Manager for Peninsula’s 2025 cohort.
Connecting learning with the industry
Induction week also gave the graduates an opportunity to step outside the office and experience the maritime industry first-hand.
The Gibraltar Port Authority welcomed the group for a visit, while the University of Gibraltar Maritime Academy provided an interactive learning experience using its maritime simulator, sponsored by both Peninsula and HTM, connecting the graduates’ development with the wider industry they are entering.
This exposure reflects a broader commitment to supporting the skills and talent that the shipping and bunkering industries will need in the future. Peninsula and HTM are among the organisations that funded the University of Gibraltar’s new Maritime Academy Simulation Centre, providing students and maritime professionals with access to immersive training and helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application.
“Giving graduates exposure to the wider maritime industry is an important part of their development. Understanding the environment our customers, vessels and partners operate in helps bring their day-to-day roles to life and gives them a much broader perspective as they begin their careers.” Alicia Vallejo, Cargo Operations Manager and Graduate Manager for Peninsula’s 2025 cohort.
Investing beyond the first week
Induction is only the beginning.
Supported by dedicated managers and colleagues across Peninsula’s global network, the graduates will have opportunities to learn, contribute and build experience from the outset.
Investing in emerging talent is an important part of building Peninsula’s future capability. By combining meaningful responsibility with global exposure and access to experienced people across the business, the Graduate Programme is designed to help early-career professionals build the knowledge and confidence they need to develop their careers within the maritime industry.
It also reflects something broader: the importance of continuing to attract new perspectives and talent into an industry that is evolving rapidly.
For our 2026 graduates, the introductions are over and the foundations have been laid. Now, the real journey begins. Stay tuned for news on our Graduate Programme 2027.