MAnagement TEAM

Our management team is rich in experience of the submarine cable industry and has defined both a
clear company strategy as well as the goals that will enable us to deliver our strategy.

The SBSS management team is currently headed up by Capt. Simon Hibberd, the Managing
Director and Mr Leonard Liu, the Vice Managing Director.

  • Leonard Liu
    General Manager

    Leonard Liu joined SBSS in November 2019 and was subsequently being appointed as the General Manager in 2024. Len is responsible for the overall strategic planning and operational management of SBSS.

    Post-graduation, Leonard initially worked at the Posts & Telecommunications Design and Consulting Institute for 9 years before joining China Comservice (CCS) in 2004. He subsequently assumed a number of senior roles including Assistant to the General Manager in Shanghai Posts and Telecommunications Design and Consulting Institute and most recently as General Manager of CCS Shanghai Overseas Development Division.

    With nearly 30 years’ working experience in both the Chinese and the international telecoms business, Leonard has been responsible for implementing a host of high-profile initiatives in CCS. This includes leading the company in winning its first turnkey submarine cable project and chairing the establishment of its overseas product base.

    Leonard graduated from both Wuhan University and Tongji University and holds a master’s degree in Electronics and Communication Systems.

  • Simon Hibberd
    Chief Operating Officer

    Capt. Simon Hibberd, joined SBSS as Managing Director in the Spring of 2018 and is currently serving as Chief Operating Officer.

    With over thirty years’ experience in the submarine cable industry Simon has led the SBSS management team with drive and passion. Simon started his career in the submarine cable industry working on board the Cable & Wireless Marine fleet of cable ships, rising to the rank of Commander where he subsequently completed a number of landmark fibre optic and power cable installation projects.

    In 2007, Simon moved ashore and subsequently held a number of senior posts within the Global Marine Group. These included roles as Fleet Operations Manager; Designated Person Ashore; Director Fleet & Operational Support; and Director, Global Technical Sales.

    Simon’s significant operational knowledge, combined with managerial and business development experience gained during his career within the Global Marine Group, has made him a great fit for SBSS. During his years as Managing Director with SBSS, Simon focused on positioning the company to achieve sustainable growth both in the telecom and diversified cable markets. Simon successfully brought into being our Greater China Business Unit as well as long-term investments in the power cable installation barge ‘Fu Yong 6’, the QT1000 trencher ‘Sealion 4’ and the most recent addition to our fleet, cs ‘Fu Tai’.

    In January 2024 the SBSS Board Directors asked Simon if he would take up the newly created role of SBSS Chief Operating Officer. Simon accepted the position and remains based in Shanghai.

  • Ronald Xu
    Project Director

    Ronald Xu has been with SBSS since the company was established in 1995. He started his career in a Commercial role before joining the SBSS fleet where, throughout an eight-year maritime career, he progressed from submarine Cable Jointer through to Chief Cable Engineer in 2000.

    Ronald came ashore and was appointed as the SBSS Project Director in 2003. Since 2003, Ronald has led a talented team of Project Managers, Project Engineers, Solution Designers and a Customs Clearance Officer. Ronald’s telecoms cable industry knowledge in unparalleled and he is often called upon by cable system owners and potential owners to support with cable design, cable routing and to provide his submarine cable technical support. Ronald can often be found contributing at industry forums such as ICPC, SubOptic and Submarine Networks.

  • Tulip Zang
    Commercial Director

    Tulip Zang joined SBSS when the company was established in 1995.

    Initially working in the Operations Department, Tulip moved to concentrate on offshore project work in 1997. Tulip was promoted to the position of Senior Project Manager in 2006.

    During her time of Project Management, Tulip delivered numerous high-profile projects for SBSS, notably the BP Tangguh Expansion, Wando-Jinsan Interconnector and, in telecom, segments of SEA-US, MCT, SEA-ME-WE 5, I-ME-WE and AAG.

    In 2020, Tulip expressed a wish to expand her commercial knowledge and she transferred to the Commercial Department, quickly becoming a very competent commercial archon.

    Tulip was appointed SBSS Commercial Director in September 2023.

    Tulip’s profound company knowledge, her commercial acumen and her proven skills in managing a submarine cable industry team place her well for her current role. 

    Tulip holds a master’s degree in Marine Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and management diploma from China Europe International Business School.

  • Chloe Chen
    Finance Director

    Chloe started her career in the finance department at Shanghai Telecom after completing her bachelor’s degree in Accounting. After completing her degree, she served in the roles of Finance Manager, Deputy Chief Accountant, Finance Director and Deputy General Manager at various subsidiaries under China Comservice Shanghai. Over the course of her career, Chloe has gained strong financial management experience across a broad range of sectors including telecom value-added services, communication construction, logistics and transportation, e-commerce, international freight forwarding, foreign trade of importation and exportation and domestic trade etc.

    In March 2019, Chloe was appointed as the Finance Director of SBSS. Chloe and her team are responsible for the company’s accounting, taxation, financial management and procurement, as well as implementation of the financial strategy to support the company's overall growth.

    Chloe is a Senior Accountant, Certified Public Accountant and holds a master’s degree in Accounting.

  • Tom Qiu
    Human Resources Director

    Tom joined SBSS in the year 2000 and following a successful offshore career with the company as a ships engineer, Tom moved ashore and headed up the Fleet Operation function for more than 14 years.

    During a refresh of roles within the management team, in 2020 Tom moved to a new role and now leads the SBSS human resource function.

    As Director of Human Resources Tom ensures our fleet is properly manned, our office properly resourced and has responsibilities that include development of our fleet manning strategy, payroll, training, ensuring talent management throughout the company, recruitment and succession planning.

    Tom holds an M.Eng. degree in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an EMBA degree at China European International Business School.

  • Mack Wang
    Fleet Operation Director

    Mack joined SBSS in 2001 and served in the role of Ship Superintendent prior to being appointed as the Director of Human Resources in 2012.

    With a career spanning more than 30 years’ in the maritime industry, as well as his technical expertise, Mack has extensive experience in personnel management of both offshore and onshore marine staff. Mack also has an in-depth knowledge of maritime insurance.

    Following a refresh of roles within the company management team in 2020, Mack returned to his technical roots and assumed the role of Fleet Operation Director. He now leads a team of superintendents and equipment managers and is responsible for both company QHSE and our Wujing cable depot. Mack also holds the position of company DPA.

    Mack completed a BSc degree in Marine Engineering at Dalian Maritime University in 1989 and subsequently acquired the LLM degree in maritime law and an MBA from Shanghai Maritime University.

  • Hua Li
    Chairman of the Trade Union

    Hua Li joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1995 and has more than 30 years’ experience in the area of CPC development and business management in the Chinese telecoms sector.

    During his career, Mr. Li has served in the roles of Director of the Secretariat of the Party Committee Work Department in Shanghai Telecom Industry (Group); the Deputy General Manager in Shanghai Oriental Communication Industry Trade; the Deputy General Manager, the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Chairman of the Trade Union in Shanghai Tongmao International Supply Chain Management; the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; the Deputy General Manager and the Chairman of the Trade Union in Shanghai Gonglian Communication Information Development.

    Mr. Li joined SBSS in May 2020 as the Secretary of the Party’s General Branch and the Chairman of the Trade Union. He is committed to facilitating the integration of the business operation and CPC development in SBSS. Guided by parent company China Comservice’s new strategical positioning as the “New Generation of Integrated Intelligence Service Provider”, Mr. Li is working to ensure SBSS’s sustainable, fast and healthy growth.