THE NEW year will see a new CEO at the head of the world’s second-largest ocean freight carrier.
Søren Skou will step down as A.P. Møller – Maersk CEO. The current CEO of the company’s ocean and logistics, Vincent Clerc, will take up the role, effective on 1 January 2023.
A.P. Møller – Maersk board chair Robert M. Uggla thanked Mr Skou for his leadership.
“Søren has contributed to our group’s development over almost forty years, of which eleven years as CEO for Maersk Tankers, four years as CEO for Maersk Line and close to seven years as CEO for Maersk,” Mr Uggla said.
“During his tenure as CEO of Maersk, Soren has been instrumental in redefining Maersk into a customer centric end-to-end logistics provider with a global leadership position in sustainable transportation solutions.”
Mr Uggla said the Maersk ocean and logistics business, which Mr Clerc has led since 2019, contributes a significant part of the company’s invested capital and results.
“[Mr Clerc] has been a pivotal leader for Maersk’s transformation, demonstrating great strategic acumen, an ability to execute complex plans and deliver long term shareholder value through compelling customer solutions,” Mr Uggla said.
“The strong tail winds that benefited the supply chain industries during the pandemic are coming to an end. With an increasingly challenging outlook, the board believes Vincent holds the right experience and capabilities as CEO to pursue and oversee Maersk’s strategic and organisational development in the years to come.”
Mr Skou said for almost seven years he has worked to change the company’s business model, the culture, the digital backbone and the results to make Maersk a profitable growth company again.
“That was the mandate I got as CEO in 2016,” he said.
“Now is the right time for Maersk, for Vincent, and for me to make this transition.”
