May 11, 2016
“By working together, as One Tanker Team, we multiply the impact of everyone’s contribution toward making this company great.”
“Every day we each come to work with an understanding and a belief that we are part of one big team” says Kevin Mackay, CEO of Teekay Tankers.
Since joining the company in 2014, Kevin has put a great deal of energy facilitating the culture of working together. “By working together, as One Tanker Team, we multiply the impact of everyone’s contribution toward making this company great.”
“If you were to ask me what the strongest unit or team is, it has to be the family.”
Scottish at heart, Kevin has lived his life moving between Japan, Singapore, United States and now Canada. He grew up far from his extended family, which made his direct family grow close together. “If you were to ask me what the strongest unit or team is, it has to be the family. Each individual is working for the collective good and to make sure the family is strong, supported and safe.” Kevin sees Teekay in the same light, as one large family working together, watching out for each other.
For Torben – seafarers and shore staff were equally important; they are one team.
Kevin credits Torben Karlshoej, Teekay’s founder, as the inspiration for the One Tanker Team initiative. When he read Teekay’s 40th anniversary book, he realized that – for Torben – seafarers and shore staff were equally important; they are one team. “When I joined the company, I felt in Tankers we had perhaps forgotten that, so I decided to rekindle that spirit and refocus everyone on what I felt was important – working together, sea and shore, towards a common goal as one team.”
“We have to offer customers something better. We have to be the best in order to get that first phone call.”
“The organization is no different to the family.” Teekay Tankers is a global team working towards one mission – to be the world’s leading tanker brand. In such a competitive market, “a customer’s perception of who you are and what you stand for is what drives business. If we are to drive customers to choose us over our competitors, we have to offer them something better. We have to offer them a safer, more reliable service of transportation without incident or harm to the environment. We have to be the best in order to get that first phone call.”
“I always saw Teekay as the gold standard. As the company that was truly professional across all aspects of their business.”
“We have been an industry leader for so long. The Teekay brand was built on the quality of our ships and our operations. In an industry as dynamic and challenging as ours, that is something to be really proud of.” With 25 years of experience in the shipping industry, Kevin has always looked up to Teekay for inspiration. As a customer, “I always saw Teekay as the gold standard. As the company that was truly professional across all aspects of their business.” As a competitor, “I always strived to follow their lead, to try and match what they were doing.”
“My pride in leading Teekay Tankers is about working for the best.”
“My pride in leading Teekay Tankers is about working for the best.” When asked about the future of Teekay Tankers, Kevin believes the company will simply be a better and stronger version of what it is today. “It is about being the best of the best in each area of our business, and working together to deliver the best product and service to our customers.”
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