Sea Swift CEO Dwayne Freeman has quit after just over a year in the top job. Photo: Supplied.
Sea Swift CEO Dwayne Freeman has resigned suddenly a little over 12 months after taking the helm of northern Australia’s largest shipping company.
Mr Freeman, who came on board in July 2022 to replace Rochelle Macdonald, who lasted less than a year in the top job, resigned just days after the three-year-overdue arrival of new cargo vessel Newcastle Bay II.
It’s been a tough few years for Sea Swift, with mounting exasperation over the new vessel’s late arrival, a COVID outbreak in Mr Freeman’s first week in the job, a nearly 15 per cent cargo cost hike in his second month and community pressure over slow deliveries.
Sea Swift did not respond to Cape York Weekly’s questions regarding the high turnover in the top job and customer confidence in the company.
Recruitment for a new CEO began the day Mr Freeman’s resignation was announced on 24 October, with Sea Swift director Chris Pearce stepping into the role in an acting capacity.
The shipping company has provided services and project freight in northern Australia for more than 35 years with depots in Cairns, Weipa, Seisia, Horn Island, Badu Island, and Thursday Island.
