New CEO appointed for Maersk Line

Søren Skou has been appointed new CEO of Maersk Line with effect from 16 January 2012. Søren Skou was previously CEO of Maersk Tankers and replaces Eivind Kolding who is leaving Maersk Line to become Chairman of the Executive Board of Danske Bank.

”Under Eivind Kolding’s skilled leadership, Maersk Line has undergone an impressive turnaround. 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,” says Group CEO Nils S. Andersen, A.P. Moller - Maersk.

”I am very pleased that Søren Skou has accepted the important task as CEO of Maersk Line. Søren is a sharp and visionary leader with strong international leadership experience, not least within shipping. He 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,” says Nils S. 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, amongst 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.

The Group expects to fill the position as new CEO of Maersk Tankers internally. Until then, all of Søren Skou’s direct reports will report directly to Group CEO Nils S. Andersen.