Associated British Ports  has strengthened its East Anglia Commercial Team through the appointment of John Grace as Lead Commercial Manager, alongside the expansion of Tom Duit’s role at the Port of Lowestoft and Simon Priddle’s progression to Assistant Commercial Manager following the successful completion of the ABP Graduate Scheme.

The appointments reflect ABP’s continued commitment to supporting customers, attracting investment and unlocking new opportunities across one of the UK’s most dynamic regions for trade, logistics and energy.

The strengthened team will support ABP’s ports in Ipswich, Lowestoft and King’s Lynn, working closely with customers across established and emerging sectors including offshore wind, conventional and renewable energy, agribulk, construction materials, manufacturing, project cargo and logistics.

John Grace joins ABP as Lead Commercial Manager for East Anglia, bringing extensive commercial experience across short-sea shipping, multimodal logistics and commercial property. Most recently, John served as UK Commercial Manager for CLdN Cargo, where he led commercial and customer strategy for major businesses using the company’s European logistics and shipping services. Prior to this, he held senior commercial roles with Freightliner Group and Samskip, developing customer partnerships, securing long-term agreements and supporting business growth across complex supply chains.

In his new role, John will lead commercial activity across ABP’s East Anglia ports, helping customers identify opportunities for growth while supporting the delivery of ABP’s commercial strategy across the region.

Tom Duit has expanded his existing role as Operations Manager at the Port of Lowestoft to include commercial responsibilities, bringing together deep operational knowledge with a stronger customer and business development focus. In addition to leading day-to-day port operations, Tom will support the growth of existing customer relationships, develop new commercial opportunities and help maximise the value of Lowestoft’s growing role in the energy sector.

The commercial team is further strengthened by the appointment of Simon Priddle as Assistant Commercial Manager. Having completed ABP’s Graduate Scheme, Simon has developed a strong understanding of the ports sector and the needs of customers across the East Anglia region. He will support customer account management, business development and the delivery of commercial projects across the portfolio.

Lex Hanham, Head of Commercial (Wales and Short Sea Ports) at ABP said:

“East Anglia is one of the most exciting regions in the UK for investment, trade and energy. Our ports are supporting vital supply chains, enabling economic growth and helping deliver nationally significant projects both today and in the future.”

“The appointments of John, Tom and Simon strengthen our ability to support customers and pursue new opportunities across the region. Together, they bring a strong mix of commercial expertise, operational knowledge and local insight which will help ensure our ports continue to grow and create value for customers and communities.”

Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager for East Anglia at ABP said: “As ABP’s investment continues across the region, it is vital that we have the right people in place to support our customers and maximise the opportunities ahead. These appointments reflect a long-term commitment from ABP to the region and will create an even stronger platform for sustainable growth across Lowestoft, Ipswich and King’s Lynn.”

ABP’s East Anglia ports offer customers a diverse range of facilities and services, from handling bulk and breakbulk cargoes to supporting offshore energy operations and major infrastructure projects.

At Lowestoft, ABP’s £35 million investment in the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) provides a dedicated base for the offshore energy sector, supporting operations and maintenance activity in the Southern North Sea and reinforcing the port’s position as a key hub for the UK’s energy transition.

Across the wider region, ABP’s ports are well positioned to support nationally significant infrastructure developments, including Sizewell C, through the provision of port-centric logistics, storage and marine services.

Meanwhile, the Port of King’s Lynn continues to provide a vital gateway for trade across the East of England, supporting customers involved in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and energy. Its strategic location and specialist handling capabilities make it a key part of regional and national supply chains.

The strengthened commercial team will play a central role in helping customers access these opportunities while ensuring ABP continues to invest in the infrastructure, partnerships and services needed to support long-term growth across East Anglia.