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Maersk chief quits for bank job

[ December 19, 2011   //   Chris ]

Maersk Line CEO Eivind Kolding has left the company to become chairman of the executive board of Danske Bank. His place has been taken by Søren Skou, previously CEO of Maersk Tankers. Group CEO of parent company AP Moller – Maersk. Nils Andersen, paid tribute to the former Maersk CEO: “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.”

He added: “I am very pleased that Søren Skou has accepted the important task as CEO of Maersk Line.” He described him as “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.”

Søren Skou’s additional positions will gradually be transferred to others in the Group, including the board positions of DFDS and Danish Shipper’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.