James Pippard is departing as chief executive officer of Connecticut-based pools power Heidmar, tanker market sources told TradeWinds.

The surprise announcement came only 19 months after Pippard was recruited from Vancouver-based Teekay Corp to become the new Heidmar boss, replacing the departed Ben Ognibene.

Neither Pippard nor other Heidmar officials could be reached for comment before TradeWinds' deadline.

However, a tanker market source described the separation as "fact, not rumour".