(EnergyAsia, May 26 2011, Thursday) — Dutch oil and chemical storage and logistics firm Royal Vopak said its most recent former chairman John Paul Broeders has died of cancer at the age of 47.

In a statement, Vopak described Mr Broeders, who died on May 15, as a sportsman and businessman in heart and soul with an inspiring ambition of wanting to win.

“He sadly lost his courageous but unfair battle against the unexpectedly aggressive form of cancer prematurely at the young age of 47. Our warm thoughts and support are with his wife and their two beloved children,” the company said.

Mr Broeders joined the company’s predecessor, Van Ommeren, in 1990, and held various positions in Asia as well as served as vice president for marketing and sales for the chemicals logistics for Europe and Africa. From 2000 to May 2004, he was President of Vopak Asia.

On January 1 2006, he was promoted from vice-chairman to chairman, succeeding Carel van den Driest.

Last August, Vopak announced that Mr Broeders was leaving the company to become chairman of SHV Holdings. He was succeeded by Eelco Hoekstra on March 1 2011.