Maersk leans into logistics with new North American chief

In a transfer that alerts a rising emphasis on its logistics enterprise, A.P. Moller-Maersk on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Ditlev Blicher as the brand new regional president for North America as of Jan. 1.

Blicher had labored as Maersk’s regional president for Asia Pacific since 2023.

The appointment was a part of a reorganizing of management introduced earlier this month by Maersk (MAERSK-.CO), when it tabbed longtime Kuehne & Nagel govt Robert Erni as chief monetary officer and board member.

The adjustments come as Denmark’s Maersk shifts focus from larger however extra risky cyclical profitability in ocean delivery to decrease however steadier returns in logistics providers comparable to warehousing, contract logistics and achievement.

Amid an arms race to construct new ships, Maersk relinquished its longtime crown because the world’s largest container service to Mediterranean Transport Co. of Switzerland, and is being challenged by France’s CMA CGM and Cosco (1919.HK) of China.

Maersk earlier this yr accomplished an preliminary $1 billion part of a $2 billion whole inventory buyback deliberate for 2025.

Maersk just lately relocated its North American headquarters from New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina – a transfer seen as each chopping prices but in addition shifting its company middle nearer to the U.S. Southeast, the place growth of warehouse and distribution networks is surging.

Blicher joined Maersk in 2020 after working as Asia Pacific chief govt at German forwarder DB Schenker, now a unit of DSV (DSV.CO). He was additionally president of Asia Pacific and Europe for forwarding at UTi Worldwide and govt vp – Group Operations for CEVA Logistics (NASDAQ: CEVA).

Charles van der Steene, who headed the North America unit since early 2024, will transfer to managing director for Maersk’s India, Center East and African area. He labored as Damco’s regional managing director earlier than the corporate merged with Maersk in 2019.

“I’m trying ahead to working with our gifted workforce in North America to construct on the progress they’ve made as we’ve advanced right into a full-suite logistics supplier,” Blicher mentioned in a launch. “Our focus might be on driving sustainable progress and strengthening operational excellence to ship a best-in-class expertise for our prospects.”

Discover extra articles by Stuart Chirls right here.

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