1 July 2025, Hamburg, Germany – ChartWorld International, a leading provider of digital navigation solutions, today announced the appointment of Stephan Dimke as General Manager, overseeing both the ChartWorld and SevenCs brands. He succeeds Steven Schootbrugge, who is stepping down after 14 years of leadership to pursue new opportunities within the Teledyne Technologies Inc group.
Dimke brings a unique blend of operational expertise and deep industry insight to the role. A former navigator in the German Navy, he later studied economics at Hamburg University before entering the maritime technology sector. His career in digital navigation began at Transas in 2008, where he led European sales and contributed to the development of the Navi-Sailor and Navi-Planner series.
In 2011, Dimke joined ChartWorld, playing a pivotal role in launching the industry’s first ECDIS-as-a-Service concept. Since then, he has held several leadership roles within the company, including Sales Director, Managing Director of ChartWorld Singapore, and most recently, Managing Director of ChartWorld Germany. As a globally recognised expert in digital navigation, Dimke is known for bridging the needs of onboard crews with the operational demands of shore-based teams.
Stephan has played a pivotal role in shaping ChartWorld’s commercial strategy and strengthening its market position. His appointment represents a natural progression for the business, aligning with its continued focus on delivering future-ready navigation solutions to the global maritime industry.
Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing CEO Steven Schootbrugge shared:
“It has been an incredible journey leading ChartWorld and SevenCs over the past 14 years. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together – from pioneering digital navigation systems to expanding our global footprint. Stephan has been a key part of that journey, and I have every confidence in his ability to lead the business forward with vision and integrity.”
ChartWorld remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, and customer-centric growth. With a clear vision for the future, the company continues to focus on delivering reliable, future-ready navigation technologies that support safer and more efficient maritime operations.