07 April 2021, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA: VIKAND Solutions, LLC—a global maritime medical operations and public health provider—affirms its growth in the global maritime industries with the appointment of Russ Holmes, Director of Business Development. While VIKAND is well known for providing end-to-end medical solutions to the cruise industry for its guests and crew, by bringing Holmes onboard, the company is even more assertively positioned to further extend its medical best practices and results to the global maritime industry, including commercial shipping, private islands, the gas and oil energy sector, and the yachting market.

“To this newly created role at VIKAND, Russ brings his wealth of medical expertise and maritime experience—and his indomitable spirit—to ensure our current and future clients receive the highest level of service. He has extensive knowledge of the global maritime industries, enabling us further engagement and capacity in providing our medical solutions in the return to safe sailing,” says Peter Hult, VIKAND CEO.

Holmes is well known throughout the maritime and healthcare industries having spent the past two+ decades working with Mercy Ships, which owns and operates the two largest charitable hospital ships in the world. Having previously spent eight years at sea onboard a Mercy Ship, he knows what it takes to provide the highest level of healthcare to mariners and guests. He will now use this unparalleled experience, skills, and empathy to work with the VIKAND team and clients.

For the last 15 years, Holmes has built globally based teams that have developed strategic partnerships with many of the largest brands throughout the maritime, healthcare and technology sectors, including MSC, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, CLIA, Seatrade, Wartsila, Becton Dickinson, and hundreds of others.

“Russ brings VIKAND a deep understanding and knowledge of the healthcare needs of the maritime industry, the biomedical needs of our clients, extensive project and relationship management as well as what it takes to provide leadership to grow high functioning, unified teams around the globe. His experience in all of these areas will be a great asset to our clients as well as VIKAND,” comments Hult.

Most recently, Holmes was the Director of Corporate Development for Mercy Ships, managing globally- based teams that engaged many industries throughout the corporate sector to raise support for the mission of the organization. He has also held other senior roles throughout the organization: International Supply Chain, Logistics and Procurement, and Operation Director onboard one of its hospital ships. He most recently played a key role in sourcing much of the medical equipment for Mercy Ships’ new state-of-the-art hospital ship, Global Mercy which will deploy later this year.

Russ comments, “For over twenty years, I have worked in the maritime industry using ships to deliver the highest level of healthcare. Joining VIKAND is a natural fit. I am excited to use my skills, experience, and knowledge of the industry to benefit VIKAND clients, their mariners and guests while helping drive growth for the organization as we meet the growing healthcare needs of the industry. I believe VIKAND offers tremendous medical solutions—delivered with efficiency and intelligence—to every segment of the maritime industry.”

“Having spent many years at sea myself, I understand and appreciate the healthcare needs of mariners and guests alike and the team at VIKAND has developed outstanding “end-to-end” medical solutions to meet these needs. I look forward to working with existing and new clients to understand their medical needs in the areas of COVID testing, bio-medical equipment needs, service and maintenance as well as medical staffing needs, and to work together to find the most suitable, tailored solutions.” he concludes.

Visit www.vikand.com to learn more about VIKAND’s medical solutions that can be tailored to your needs or call Russ directly on +1 954-907-5465.

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About VIKAND

VIKAND provides global medical and public health service solutions to the entire maritime industry, including cruise, yacht, superyacht, commercial shipping, fishing, and energy sectors. VIKAND works with more than 200 cruise ship clients—spread over 23 cruise lines—supporting 120,000 crew with medical and mental wellness needs supported by experienced onboard and onshore medical staffs. VIKAND’s proven medical and public health expertise and experience is demonstrated through a proactive and evidence-based healthcare approach, the VIKAND Total Healthcare Solution and is coordinated with global regulatory agencies and industry associations. Solutions encompass 24/7 medical management, public health, and COVID-19 consulting, biomedical equipment maintenance and products, and leading air and surface decontamination solutions. VIKAND recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was awarded the Seatrade Cruise Awards Supplier of the Year 2020 in October. VIKAND has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Hamburg and soon Monaco in addition to having staff located throughout the world.

Contacts

• Commentary: Peter Hult, CEO, VIKAND, peter.hult@vikand.com, +1 754.715.4961
• Editorial Services: Amy Halsted, amyhalsted@gmail.com, +1 207.432.7239