Peter T. Leach, Senior Editor | Feb 01, 2012 9:07AM EST
Maersk Line’s new CEO, Soren Skou, wasted no time putting his own management team in place to run the world’s largest container line.
Skou, who succeeded Eivind Kolding in the top job only on Jan. 16, announced his new team Tuesday.
Starting immediately, the executive management of Maersk Line under Skou will consist of five executives: chief commercial officer Lucas Vos; chief operating officer Morten Engelstoft, who continues in his current position; chief strategy and transformation officer Jakob Stausholm; chief financial officer Peter Ronnest Andersen, who stays in that position; chief product and yield officer Vincent Clerc; and acting head of human resources Bill Allen, who is also head of group human resources.
A new member of the management team and new to Maersk Line is Jakob Stausholm, former group CFO of the global facility provider ISS. Also new on the team is Vincent Clerc, currently responsible for Maersk Line's Asia-Europe trade, and Bill Allen, head of group human resources. Lucas Vos continues as member of the executive team, but takes on new responsibility.
As part of the organizational changes, A. P. Moller-Maerk’s freight-forwarding and logistics business Damco will no longer report to Skou but to Kim Fejfer, a member of the A. P. Moller executive board and CEO of APM Terminals.
"The team represents a very strong blend of skills, experience and fresh eyes on the business. It definitely has the potential to take Maersk Line to the next level," Skou said. "Recently, Maersk Line has introduced new strong products, improved customer satisfaction and taken out costs. The net result is that Maersk Line today has margins above industry averages. However, we have potential for much more and will continue to improve, not least on profitability, which currently is not satisfactory.
"The industry structure also needs to change to become healthier, and Maersk Line has the power and responsibility to play a leading role in this transformation," Skou said.
-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @petertleach.