Vanguard Strengthens Global Salvage and Emergency Response Capability with Appointment of Matthew Cooke

Vanguard is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Cooke as Senior Salvage Manager and Americas Lead, further strengthening the company’s growing global salvage, emergency response and crisis management capabilities.

Based in Houston, Texas, Matthew brings extensive experience in the salvage and emergency response sector, having held senior positions with one of the world’s leading salvage and marine emergency response organisations. Throughout his career, he has been involved in a wide range of complex marine casualty, wreck removal, towage, salvage and emergency response operations across the globe.



Matthew’s appointment represents an important milestone in Vanguard’s continued investment in its salvage and emergency response proposition, supporting shipowners, insurers, P&I Clubs, legal representatives and maritime stakeholders facing high-consequence incidents and operational emergencies.

Vanguard’s salvage and emergency response services combine operational expertise, crisis management, intelligence support and technical capability, enabling clients to respond quickly and effectively when incidents occur.

The company’s growing service offering includes:

• Turnkey Salvage and Emergency Response Services

• Crisis management and incident response support

• Intelligence-led risk assessment and threat mitigation

• Emergency Towage and Disabled Vessel Assistance

• Marine Firefighting

• 24/7 vessel monitoring with watch standers supported by Vanguard’s state-of-the-art monitoring technology

• Wreck Removals and Special Projects

• Pollution & Environmental Response coordination

• Emergency preparedness planning and exercises
  

Supporting the salvage team is Vanguard’s established crisis response and intelligence capability, led by experienced maritime security, intelligence and operational specialists.

As part of this integrated approach, Director of Intelligence & Crisis Response Ellie Shafik works closely with the salvage and emergency response team, providing intelligence support, situational awareness, stakeholder mapping, risk analysis and crisis response expertise and management during developing and ongoing incidents. This combination of operational salvage experience, and real-time intelligence, and crisis response enables Vanguard to support clients throughout the entire lifecycle of an incident, from initial notification and escalation through to resolution and recovery. 

Matthew Cooke said: 

“Salvage and emergency response operations demand rapid decision-making, technical expertise and effective coordination between multiple stakeholders. Vanguard is building a highly capable team with the experience and agility required to support clients through some of the most challenging situations they may face. I am delighted and excited to be joining the business at such an exciting stage of its growth.”

Kfir Magen, Founder of Vanguard Tech said:

“The expansion of Vanguard’s salvage capability forms part of the company’s broader strategy to provide integrated maritime risk, crisis response and turnkey operational support services to clients worldwide.

By combining salvage expertise, emergency response management, intelligence analysis and technology, Vanguard is positioned to deliver practical, effective solutions across the full spectrum of maritime incidents and emergencies.”

For further information about Vanguard’s Salvage and Emergency Response services, please contact our 24/7 Maritime Assistance Centre:+44 (0)20 4570 3193

Matthew J. Cooke | Senior Salvage Manager and Americas Lead

P: +1-832-708-1886

M: +1-281-299-6775

E: Matthew.Cooke@vanguard-tech.io

Media Contact

Charlotte Ward | Group Head of Marketing & Communications
 E: charlotte.ward@vanguard-tech.com