The Friday & Co team
The Friday & Co team consists of several specialists operating from their homeport Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and one of them from Riga (Latvia). Both offices work as independent shipbrokers. Thanks to this geographical spread, we are able to act quickly and mediate personally in North-West Europe and in the Baltic region. The combined experience and expertise of the team members is one of our strengths: we complement each other perfectly. Some of our members have spent years at sea in different functions, others specialize in international and maritime law, or have special knowledge of market developments, current legislation and regulations, or the typical flood of documentation that comes with each transaction. We are each other’s support system, each other’s eyes and ears. Another advantage of this varied team is the languages they speak. Certainly, working in Europe, we can often communicate with clients in their mother tongue or in English.
Our crew in Rotterdam currently consists of the following brokers:
Rod Schlick
Director, S&P Broker
Having a seagoing father and grandfather, venturing onto the sea and into the maritime world was a natural decision I always have and still do fully enjoy!
After doing my nautical training as Maritime Officer (dual education for Deck Officer and Marine Engineer) from the Higher Nautical School in Amsterdam in the early 90’s, I went sailing on the high and coastal seas on various Heavylift, Multipurpose, RoRo, Passenger and dry cargo vessels.
After obtaining my Master all Ships license I sailed for a few more years ending as a Captain. Having obtained my degree in Maritime Science (Maritime Economics and Maritime Law) from the Universities of Ghent and Antwerp in Belgium, I joined Friday & Co Shipbrokers (formerly Aras Shipbrokers, then Amels Shipbrokers) as a broker in 2003. Since then I have the pleasure to work with nice clients and colleagues on all facets of the sale & purchase market for ships, a world I could not dream to live without.
Francesco de Simone
S&P Broker
Boats and ships have always been among my favourite passions. There is a picture of me when I was only two months old onboard my father’s 7-metre pleasure boat. Saltwater started flowing in my veins already back then and still does today.
My passion for this industry propelled me to start a marine engineering path at University. Having achieved my Bachelor’s degree in Naples in Italy, and while finishing my Master’s degree at the Delft University of Technology, I decided to combine my studies with my interest in commercial activities. Choosing “shipbrokers” as the main research subject for my master thesis was the perfect way to open the door and really access the shipbroking world.
Joining the amazing Friday & Co. team in March 2022 as an S&P shipbroker represents the starting point of hopefully a very long journey in shipping for me.
Looking to invest in ships? I can’t wait to guide you!
Seren Sapmaz
S&P Broker
Growing up in a (former) shipowning family, nearby a coastal town, having water in my veins and falling for the waves of the Mediterranean Sea was inevitable! I obtained a law degree at Koç University and a Master of Law in Maritime Law from Istanbul Bilgi University. After working in the maritime law team of an international top-tier law firm in Istanbul, I had my own law firm for five years.
In 2022, I relocated to the Netherlands to expand my expertise in the use of smart contracts in the shipping industry at the University of Amsterdam.Combining my knowledge of maritime law and my experience in the Turkish shipping market, here I am aboard Friday & Co. Shipbrokers as an S&P Broker, anchored in Rotterdam.
Besides chasing ships, I enjoy classical music concerts in Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam and sailing in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas during summer.
Justin Archard
S&P Broker
Born in Weymouth on the south coast of the United Kingdom and in the shadow of the once very active Portland naval base, ships were an early imprint on my consciousness. When I eventually went to university in Southampton, I studied for a bachelor’s degree in Shipping Operations and started my shipbroking career as a junior S&P broker in the nearby town of Alresford, when telex and fax still ruled and MOAs were amended by hand.
In 2000 I headed to Rotterdam to start a heavy lift and multipurpose shipping career which has taken me as an Owners broker to Singapore, Perth and Hamburg in a 24-year boomerang tour serving clients in the technical marine transport segment.
Now back in the Netherlands – the home of my wife and children, I am back to my shipbroking roots of S&P but with a hand still in the marine transport sector. I am the founder and curator of the Market Sentiment Index for the multipurpose industry and when time permits, I write profiles on industry leaders for the transport magazine HLPFI.
I like to run – occasionally marathons, and I have a passion for all forms of music – except heavy metal!
Preben Breivik Ihle
S&P Broker
Growing up on the west coast of Norway, I have always been surrounded by the shipping industry and have been fascinated by the vessels passing by daily. I often wondered, “Where are they going, what are they carrying and who owns them?”. This curiosity led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Shipping Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) to learn about the industry. It quickly became evident that this was the right career path for me.
To further my knowledge, I completed a Master’s degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance at Bayes Business School. During my masters, I had the opportunity to participate in Friday’s amazing Fishing Expedition Day, which marked the beginning of my professional journey. I am now excited to start my adventure in the big pond of S&P Shipbroking with the Friday & Co. team.
Outside of my professional life, I am a big sports enthusiast and enjoy spending time outdoors, whether it’s fishing, skiing or other kind of activities. While my journey has just begun, I can already tell it’s going to be an exciting voyage and I’m ready to set sail!
Jesper van der Harst
S&P Broker
Having grown up surrounded by ships and boats, a career in shipping was a natural path for me. However, it wasn't until later in life that I discovered my true calling as an S&P shipbroker.
From a young age, my two passions—selling and boats—came together. At 10 years old, I sold my parents' fridge and used the money to buy my first "ship," a small dinghy, which I later sold for a profit. That moment sparked a lifelong interest in buying and selling boats, which soon became more than just a hobby.
I went on to pursue my BSc in Business and Consumer Studies at Wageningen University & Research, where I realised that my lifelong passion could turn into a career in selling real ships. This led me to move to the United Kingdom to obtain my MSc in International Maritime Business, where I deepened my knowledge of the industry.
Today, I am excited to merge my passion with my profession as an S&P shipbroker, assisting clients in buying and selling vessels.
If you're looking to make your shipping goals a reality, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to assist!
Fotini Bouzelou
Data Analyst
I grew up in Athens, Greece, in a neighbourhood where the sea is just steps away and shipbroking firms are as common as cafes. Despite that, I never imagined a career in the maritime industry.
Instead, I was more drawn to math and understanding how the world works, which led me to study Physics at the University of Crete. Over time, I realized I wanted to use my analytical skills to more practical, real-world challenges. This interest led me to pursue a master’s degree in Engineering and Policy Analysis at TU Delft in the Netherlands, where I dove deep into data analytics and decision-making.
During this time, a part-time job at Friday & Co. became my unexpected gateway to the sector. What started as a simple data role, quickly became an exploration into the exciting challenges and opportunities in shipping. Today, I am working full time in the vibrant environment of Friday's, where I focus on turning data into useful insights and streamlining processes to make shipping smoother, smarter, and a little more fun for everyone on the team.
Patricia Holverda
Office Manager
I joined the Friday & Co. team as office manager (or ‘Office Octopus’ as they call me 😊) in September 2021.
For me, this is a great opportunity to return to shipping, as I formerly worked as an executive assistant for the board of directors at Flinter, a short sea shipping company based in the Rotterdam area as well, about 8 years ago.
In between, I have been working in several different fields. I worked with the Dutch police as management assistant to the commissioner, within healthcare as an executive assistant for the board of directors of the ‘Albert Schweitzer hospital’ and as implementation manager for ‘Het Gastenhuis’, a small-scale living for people with dementia.
But shipping was never completely off my mind…I like shipping in general, especially the 24/7 mentality and the dynamic environment. I am eager to learn more about S&P shipbroking as well.
I am looking forward to meeting my former contacts as well as meeting new ones. So…will we see each other (again) soon?
Office locations
Besides our office in Rotterdam, we are also located in Riga. You can find more information about our Riga office on their website.