Tom Softeland is a director of Star Bulk and has been a member of Star Maritime's the board of directors since inception. Since October 1996, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Partners A.S. of Bergen, Norway, a financial services firm that he founded and which specializes in shipping and asset finance. From 1990 to October 1996, he held various positions at Industry & Skips Banken, ASA, a bank specializing in shipping, most recently as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Softeland received his B.Sc. in Economics from the Norwegian School of Business and Administration (NHH).