Kit Kernon joined Vitol in 1997 and is currently head of shipping. Vitol is a leader in the energy sector with a presence across the spectrum from oil through to power, renewables and carbon. Trading over 7 million barrels per day of crude oil and products, Vitol charters circa 6,200 ship voyages every year and owns and operates a fleet of vessels that complement their physical flows. Kit is responsible for overseeing all fleet operations, investments and global chartering activities and is involved in the development of Vitol’s ESG strategy with a focus on decarbonisation in shipping and supporting seafarer welfare. Kit is a director of a number of companies in which Vitol have a strategic involvement or investment.

Previously Kit worked as a broker at Giles Prichard Gordon, London, moving to Singapore in 1993 to join Tanker Pacific in the commercial team. He initially joined Vitol in Singapore as manager for Australasia and was also responsible for the company’s East of Suez shipping activities before returning to London in 2003 to set up Mansel, Vitol’s commercial shipping operation.

Kit graduated from University of Newcastle upon Tyne with a BEng in Naval Architecture.