Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller dies at 98

The maritime industry has lost a towering figure. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller has died at the age of 98.

Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller became joint owner of the company “Firmaet A.P. Møller” in 1940.
When Denmark was occupied during World War II,  he ran the family business from New York until his return to Denmark in 1947. On his father’s death in 1965, he became director and chairman of the most important companies in the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group. He stepped down as CEO in 1993, but stayed on as chairman of the board until 2003 when – at age 90 – he retired.

At the time of his death on April 16, 2012 , Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was Chairman of the Board of the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation, the A.P. Møller Relief Foundation, and the Maersk Employee Foundation, all of which are significant shareholders of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S.

Chairman of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S,Michael Pram Rasmussen issued the following statement.

“A long and active life has come to an end, and Denmark has lost one of the few truly international businessmen that this country has produced. For more than 70 years, shipowner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller has worked for the company and the country with the purpose of creating additional value and was a leading figure in the working of the company as well as in society.

“Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller became joint owner of the company ‘Firmaet A.P. Møller’ in 1940. Since his father’s death in 1965 he was director and chairman of the most important companies in the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller undertook the daily management until 1993 and served as chairman of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S until 2003.

“Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller’s role encompassed a wide scope, and as a responsible leader and citizen he was interested in things great and small in society. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller commented on national as well as international political issues when the interests of the company were at stake.

“Until the end, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller remained strongly committed on a personal level in the company’s business. Every week you would meet him on his way up the stairs to the sixth floor at the Esplanaden headquarters in Copenhagen, where he followed developments closely. Should issues in the business require an opinion or comment, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller always made his position clear in no uncertain terms accompanied with wit and always based on thorough knowledge of the company and the history.

“Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller often had a twinkle in his eye, and both I and many employees have experienced a humorous remark when meeting Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller in the corridors of Esplanaden.

“Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller’s strong presence in the company made a significant difference to us all, both professionally and personally. His presence was a strength to the board, to the business and the employees and will be strongly missed.”

April 16, 2012