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ING announced today that Ljiljana Čortan will be appointed head of Wholesale Banking and succeed Andrew Bester no later than at the day of the Annual General Meeting in April 2026. Ljiljana is currently chief risk officer (CRO), member of the Executive Board and the Management Board Banking and will continue in these roles until the changes take effect, at which point she will step down from the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V.

Ljiljana joined ING and took on her current role in 2021. She has more than 25 years of international banking experience in various positions in risk, corporate banking, strategy and business development, among others as head of Corporate and Investment Banking Strategy for Central and Eastern Europe and global head of Financial Institutions, Banks and Sovereigns at UniCredit. Before joining ING, she was a member of the Management Board and CRO at HypoVereinsbank, a subsidiary of UniCredit Germany.

Steven van Rijswijk, CEO of ING, commented: “I am pleased that we have an excellent internal successor with a strong track record of execution and leadership; she is well suited to lead our Wholesale Banking business. Ljiljana knows the business and organisation very well and has a great understanding of the many opportunities we have to further strengthen, diversify and grow our business.”

“I would like to thank Andrew for his contributions during the last five years and his leadership of Wholesale Banking. Under his leadership, the foundations of our Wholesale Bank have strengthened significantly. His focus on client value, scaling up our business and attention to an inclusive culture have been highly valued. Andrew has positioned our wholesale bank well for further growth over the coming years.”

Ljiljana Čortan said: “I look forward to taking up the leadership of our Wholesale Banking business. In my role as CRO and through the many contacts I have had with our colleagues and clients, I have seen the dedication and expertise we have, and I believe we have all the necessary elements to realise our full potential. I look forward to working with our teams to deliver on the next phase of our strategy to become the best European Wholesale bank. I would like to thank Andrew for our cooperation over the years, and I look forward to continuing that for the coming months.”
Andrew Bester joined ING in April 2021 with more than 30 years of experience in banking and professional services including executive roles at Lloyds, Standard Chartered and Co-operative Bank.

Andrew said: “After a fulfilling and rewarding time at ING, it is time to step down from the Management Board and return to my UK home base to start the non-executive phase of my career. It has been a pleasure to help shape the bank to what it is today. I am grateful for the support, trust and collaboration shown by our clients. Thank you also to my fellow board members and all ING colleagues who have made my time so enjoyable. I look forward to continuing our good work in the coming months and in supporting an orderly handover to my board colleague Ljiljana.”

The appointment of Ljiljana Čortan as head of Wholesale Banking is subject to regulatory approval. The search for a successor as CRO has been initiated, and announcements will be made in due course.

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ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.

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Yinson GreenTech, a leading green technology solutions provider, has unveiled the Hydromover 2.0 through its marine electrification solutions business, marinEV. The all-new vessel boasts longer range, faster charging time and larger cargo capacity, while integrating the next wave of digitalisation and electrification technology in maritime operations, setting a new benchmark for zero-emissions cargo transfers in ports worldwide.

 

Building on the success of the Hydromover prototype, Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel launched in November 2023, the latest Hydromover 2.0 introduces multiple key features, including increased energy storage capacity, an advanced hull form that minimises drag, and a redesigned electrical architecture to reduce power loss. These improvements translate into a threefold increase in range that can cover all anchorages within Singapore’s port limits. Fully charged in under two hours, the vessel ensures high uptime and reliability for daily operations. The Hydromover 2.0 also boasts 25% more cargo capacity and a 75% larger deck space, supporting greater cargo consolidation, efficiency, and flexibility in port operations. 

 

The Hydromover 2.0 also represents a major step forward in Yinson GreenTech’s vision to combine electrification and digitalisation in maritime operations. Beyond its zero-emission propulsion, the vessel fully integrates marinEV’s Marine Digital Platform, enabling real-time analytics, route optimisation, automated vessel management, and data-driven decision-making. This powerful combination of clean energy and smart technology positions the Hydromover 2.0 as a catalyst for transforming traditional port operations into connected, efficient, and intelligent ecosystems – setting a new benchmark for sustainable maritime logistics in Singapore and globally. See Annex A for detailed specifications.

 

At the launch event, Yinson GreenTech signed its first bareboat charter agreements with Yacht International UAE, marking a significant milestone in the vessel’s entry into the maritime market. Deliveries of the Hydromover 2.0 vessels to United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to be completed by mid-2026. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed between Yinson GreenTech, Yacht International UAE, and Wilhelmsen Port Services to grow the adoption of electric vessels in ports throughout the UAE.

 

Jan-Viggo Johansen, Managing Director of marinEV, said:

“The all-new Hydromover 2.0 sets unprecedented standards for the modern maritime industry. At the same time, the signing of new agreements in the UAE marks a pivotal step forward for marinEV and Yinson GreenTech. Together, these milestones demonstrate our ability to move beyond innovation and into real-world deployment – taking proven electric vessel technology, connected IoT systems, and integrated digital platforms from Singapore to new markets. They reinforce our commitment to transforming port operations through the combined power of electrification and digitalisation, and to shaping a smarter, cleaner, and more connected maritime future.”

 

Prakash Vakkayil Bhaskaran, Chief Executive Officer of Yacht International LLC, commented:

“The launch of the Hydromover 2.0 marks a defining moment for the UAE maritime sector and for Yacht International. As operator of a fleet of 15 offshore support vessels & now one of the first operators to deploy fully electric vessels in the region, we are proud to contribute directly to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision and Green Mobility initiatives. This project demonstrates that sustainable innovation and commercial efficiency can move hand in hand, setting a new benchmark for clean, smart, and responsible marine operations in our waters. This is more than a vessel launch — it is a statement of intent. The Hydromover 2.0 represents our commitment to shaping the next generation of marine logistics, powered by technology, data, and responsibility to our environment.”