On June 23, the Maersk Group Board of Directors appointed Søren Skou as new Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S, replacing Nils Andersen, who is leaving the Maersk Group. The changes are effective July 1.
Skou has been with A.P. Møller - Mærsk since 1983 and a member of its executive board since 2006. He was appointed CEO of Maersk Line in 2012 and is expected to remain in this position in addition to his position as Maersk Group CEO.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead A.P. Møller – Mærsk into the next phase of our strategic development,” Skou said in a prepared statement. “The fast-paced changes of this world demand that we can adapt quickly, easily and at a minimal cost. Our future set-up must effectively respond to these challenges.”
“Søren has strong business acumen and thorough knowledge of the Group’s various businesses and has successfully restructured the businesses he has led,” Board of Directors Chair Michael Pram Rasmussen said. “The Board of Directors knows Søren as a respected and knowledgeable leader with the ability to adapt quickly to market changes.”
Andersen had been with A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S since 2005, first as member of the Board of Directors, then as Chief Executive Officer beginning in December 2007.
“After eight 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,” he explained. “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.”