One of the best known names in ship finance is stepping aside.ING has confirmed that Stephen Fewster will leave the bank at the end of the second quarter of 2026 after more than four decades in banking and 23 years shaping ING’s maritime franchise.

Fewster will remain involved during a transition period as executive chair before continuing his career in non-executive roles across the shipping industry. Under his leadership, ING has cemented its position as one of the world’s most influential lenders to shipping.

“After 23 rewarding years at ING, I’m proud to leave the shipping business in strong hands and I’m confident it will continue to thrive,” Fewster said, adding that the bank’s long-standing strategy and commitment to clients “remain firmly in place”.

Gerbrand Vroegop, based in Singapore, is stepping up as global lead of ING’s shipping sector, while Robartus Krol becomes head of transport and logistics in the UK. Both executives are long-standing ING bankers with deep sector expertise.