Shippingtelegraph: Amrit Kaur Bhullar takes the helm of Oceanbird as new CEO

by Shipping Telegraph

Swedish wind propulsion systems developer Oceanbird will have a new chief executive officer next year.

Oceanbird, the 50/50 joint venture company owned by Alfa Laval and Wallenius, is to have a new CEO: Amrit Kaur Bhullar, who will step into the role on January 1, 2026.

Amrit Kaur Bhullar is currently the senior vice president, business development & group innovation at the Norwegian ship building company, Vard.

Bhullar, who has a background in business development across major shipping suppliers, grew up in London and has lived in Norway for the last 15 years.  

“As Oceanbird enters the commercialisation phase, it will be key to deliver an effective prototype whilst at the same time scaling up to fulfill future demands,” says Amrit Kaur Bhullar. “Oceanbird is transitioning from a start-up to an established company. I will focus on learning from the talented and competent team that built the company and add a commercial perspective for growth, and build a step-by-step plan together.”

When she was asked what her vision is on how the company’s offering could evolve over time to meet the future market needs and drive long-term growth, Bhullar said:

“I want to develop a portfolio that can drive volume opportunities combined with a production approach to bring down cost.

“We will also continue to work with after-market solutions and support, and keep innovating through improved products and new offerings. One of the beauties with wind propulsion is that it can be integrated into various ship designs and combined with any other zero-emission energy solutions.”

“Partnerships have been central for Oceanbird from the very beginning and that will for sure continue,” she added.

When Amrit joins Oceanbird at the beginning of 2026, it coincides with the first vessel installation on the car-carrier Tirranna.

Erik Nøklebye, chairman of the Oceanbird board and CEO of Wallenius Lines, welcomed the appointment: “Amrit´s leadership background and experience from the maritime industry aligns well with the vision of and the people in Oceanbird. We look forward to the strategic journey that will make us the leader in this groundbreaking industry.”

“After an intensive and successful R&D phase, the Oceanbird concept has now moved to commercial realization. I am confident that Oceanbird will deliver on its maritime decarbonization potential with Amrit at the helm,” noted Sameer Kalra, president marine division, Alfa Laval.