Søren Skou replaces Andersen as new CEO of Maersk Group

The A.P. Moller-Maersk Group yesterday announced the appointment of the CEO of Maersk Line, Søren Skou as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Nils S. Andersen.

In a press statement it issued yesterday, the Danish conglomerate said, “Since 2008 the Maersk Group has successfully gone through a phase of operational optimisation in each of its businesses to the point of top quartile performance in most units.

“In order to leverage this position the Board of Directors have initiated a process to further develop the strategic options for the Maersk Group.

“To lead this phase the Board of Directors has today appointed Søren Skou as new Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, replacing Nils S. Andersen, who will leave the Maersk Group. The changes are effective as of July 1, 2016.”

The Board of Directors acknowledged Nils S. Andersen’s dedicated and persistent contribution to A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S since 2005, first as Member of the Board of Directors and subsequently as Chief Executive Officer since December 2007, where he has been a driving force in building a focused and lean global conglomerate of five core businesses within shipping, logistics and energy.

“On Behalf of the Board of Directors I thank Nils S. Andersen for considerable results in fronting the Group’s international growth, strengthening the customer focus and competitiveness of the businesses, as well as simplifying governance and increasing transparency and communication with our stakeholders,” Chairman of the Board of Directors, Michael Pram Rasmussen, said.

“I am proud of the results we as a team have achieved in the Maersk Group during my leadership and after 8 years as CEO of the Group and 15 years as CEO altogether, I find it is the right time for both me and A.P. Møller – Mærsk to make a change. Søren has all the qualities it takes to take the Group through to the next strategic step and I wish him and the whole management team all the best of luck,” Nils S. Andersen said.

“I’ve been incredibly happy and proud to work for A.P. Møller – Mærsk and it has especially been a privilege and a daily joy to work with so many very competent colleagues around the world. On a personal level I am at a point in my life where I look forward to having a bit more time with my family after many years of constant work and I look forward to entering a new phase in my life,” he added.

Søren Skou has been employed with A.P. Møller-Mærsk since 1983 and member of the Executive Board of A.P. Møller – Mærsk since 2006. In 2012 he was appointed CEO of Maersk Line. Søren Skou will remain in this position in addition to his position as CEO for the Maersk Group.

“Søren has strong business acumen and thorough knowledge of the Group’s various businesses and has successfully restructured the businesses he has led. The Board of Directors knows Søren as a respected and knowledgeable leader with the ability to adapt quickly to market changes in close collaboration with the Board of Directors, the executive management and his employees,” Michael Pram Rasmussen said.

The Board of Directors has tasked the new management to investigate the strategic and structural options to further increase agility and synergies.

The Board of Directors will communicate on the progress before end of 3rd quarter 2016.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead A.P. Møller – Mærsk into the next phase of our strategic development. The fast-paced changes of this world demand that we can adapt quickly, easily and at a minimal cost while retaining the focus on each Business Unit. Our future set-up must effectively respond to these challenges,” the new Group CEO said.