Leadership transition under way at Zeaborn Ship Management

Holger Strack

DECEMBER 18, 2018 — Holger Strack is to become CEO of Germany’s Zeaborn Ship Management on January 1, 2019. Until now Strack has been co-CEO of the third party ship manager, however CEO, Nils Aden is leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue another opportunity. Also departing the company, at the end of May 2019, will be Isabelle Rickmers, who has been responsible for Business Development, Key Account Management and Strategic Purchasing as Managing Director.

Following the acquisition of E.R. Schiffahrt in March 2018, the Bremen-based Zeaborn Group grouped the ship management activities of E.R. Schiffahrt and Rickmers Shipmanagement together under the umbrella of the new brand Zeaborn Ship Management. Aden and Strack, formerly CEO of Rickmers Shipmanagement, led the integration processes, now largely completed, at the head office in Hamburg. The international locations will be integrated subsequently.

“We would like to thank Nils Aden and Isabelle Rickmers for their extraordinary commitment, and we wish them all the best in their private and professional lives. At the same time, with Holger Strack’s great expertise and many years of experience, we know that the company is in the best of hands,” say Ove Meyer and Jan-Hendrik Többe, managing partners of the Zeaborn Group. “His focus will be on working with his colleagues Michael Brandhoff (COO) and Erik Kruse (CFO) to continue to lead Zeaborn Ship Management through the integration phase, while also ensuring high service quality for our customers. His second area of focus will be on new customer business.”

Zeaborn Ship Management’s portfolio includes the manning, technical management and operation of container vessels and bulk carriers as well as multi-purpose freighters. Headquartered in Hamburg, with a major hub in Singapore and further offices in Asia and Europe, the company employs around 300 people on shore and 4,550 at sea, serving about 150 vessels for international owners.