Peter enjoyed a first career in the British Royal Navy, that included over 20 years at sea and 5 years in seagoing command. He also gained a civilian BSc (Hons) in management. He joined ICS in 2001 and for several years led ICS representation on maritime safety, security and environmental issues at the IMO and elsewhere.

He was appointed Secretary General of ICS in July 2010 and today focuses on enabling the ICS team to optimize its effectiveness on behalf of international shipping. The membership of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) comprises the key national shipowners' associations from around the world and represents 80% of the world's merchant tonnage.