CMA CGM Enlists IBM to Improve Operations, Cut Costs

CMA CGM Group and IBM formed a partnership to develop a information technology unit to support the French carrier’s operations and reduce its costs.

Under the terms of the five-year agreement announced Wednesday, IBM will provide expertise in new technologies such as cloud computing and analytics. The new agreement developed out of a 50-50 joint IT venture that the two companies formed in 2007 in Marseilles, where CMA CGM is based.

The IT teams from the two companies will be merged into a new subsidiary, CMA Systems, which will have an equally represented governance structure and report directly to CMA CGM Chairman and CEO Jacques R. Saade.

The services and technologies developed by the new subsidiary, along with its unified organization, will enable CMA CGM to generate substantial savings in 2012, according to CMA CGM executives.

“Innovative technologies from IBM will help CMA CGM to further improve our customer service,” Saade said. “This partnership will enable us to offer our customers innovative, purpose-designed IT solutions, while improving our cost discipline.”

-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @petertleach.