New CEO of Maersk Line named

Having brought the storied container line back to profitability, Eivind Kolding will soon be leaving Maersk Line as its chief executive officer.

“Under Eivind Kolding’s skilled leadership, Maersk Line has undergone an impressive turnaround,” said Group CEO Nils S. Andersen, A.P. Moller - Maersk. “Its competitiveness has improved significantly and at the same time, Maersk Line has set new standards for the industry with regards to environment and reliability. Furthermore, Maersk Line has gotten a much stronger focus on the customers.”

As reported here, Kolding issued a warning against complacency and a call for more collaboration with shippers. The container shipping industry, he said, “stands on the brink of an era-defining moment” as it faces fundamental challenges.”

Shippers comprising the National Industrial Transportation League, the Agriculture Transport Coalition, and Cold Chain Alliance applauded this observation.

Kolding will become Chairman of the Executive Board of Danske Bank. Meanwhile, Søren Skou has been appointed new CEO of Maersk Line effective January 16,  2012.
Søren Skou was previously CEO of Maersk Tankers.

According to Anderson, Skou knows container shipping “very well” both from the time he worked for Maersk Line but also as a member of the Group’s Executive Board where he has stayed in close touch with Maersk Line and the industry.

“He is quite the right man to continue the development of Maersk Line and expand our positions in the market,” added Andersen.

Søren Skou previously held various positions in Maersk Line, from 1983 to 1998. In addition to being CEO of Maersk Tankers since 2001, Søren Skou has played an important part in the Group’s Executive Board. He has, among others, headed the Group’s initiatives to reduce costs in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, he has been the leader of the Group’s preparations for further expansion in the new growth markets.

In order to concentrate fully on the tasks in Maersk Line, Søren Skou’s additional positions will gradually be transferred to others in the Group. These include, among others, the board positions of DFDS and Danish Shipowner’s Association, where the Group will nominate CEO of Maersk Drilling Claus V. Hemmingsen, and Maersk Container Industry, where CEO of APM Terminals Kim Fejfer will take over the chairmanship.