WALLENIUS Wilhelmsen executive vice-president and chief operating officer shipping services Erik Noeklebye is stepping down and moving on.

Mr Noeklebye said: “25 years in the company, working through challenges and successes with all my amazing colleagues, makes you take stock of your life and career. This has not been an easy decision but one that is right for me and my family”.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen CEO Lasse Kristoffersen said Mr Noeklebye would be missed.

“It is a quarter of a century of institutional as well as industry experience leaving,” he said.

“I would very much like to have Erik with me on the journey forward, but I also respect his choice.”

Mr Noeklebye said his work at Wallenius Wilhelmsen had been his number-one priority.

“There is a time for everything. Now is the time to focus more on my family. We return home from Korea to Scandinavia in November,” he said.

Mr Noeklebye started his career at Wilhelmsen after graduating from university.

He has held various positions in cargo operations, trade and sales.

“I have been lucky to have been given so many interesting and challenging opportunities,” he said.

“Also, staying with the same company for so many years is an anomaly these days. It has been a great observation point of an industry in change, constantly evolving to adjust to new realities such as tighter global trade, new challenges related to cargo with a variety of fuel sources, and an all-time conflux of challenges hitting the industry. I have learnt a lot, something I take with me wherever I go next.”

Mr Noeklebye said it is good for the company that there is a change in the top management.

“We have so much talent to build on,” he said.

“I know me leaving will open opportunities for others, competent and inspired colleagues, ready to take on new responsibilities.”