Ron Widdows to be next Rickmers CEO

Ronald D. Widdows, former CEO of NOL/APL, is to become the new Chief Executive Officer of Rickmers Holding and Rickmers-Linie on April . Rickmers CFO Dr. Ignace Van Meenen will act as his deputy. Mr. Widdows will succeed Jan B. Steffens who is stepping down at the end of March, though he will continue to serve on the Rickmers Group advisory board.

Announcing the change, Bertram R. C. Rickmers, Chairman of Rickmers Holding, said:
“I am pleased to announce that Jan B. Steffens, who asked for this change of role, will continue to be with us on the advisory board and take care of special projects associated with the Rickmers Group.

“I am very happy to welcome Ron Widdows to the Rickmers Group. Widdows has over 40 years experience in the shipping industry, the last 31 years of which were with APL and Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. where he held the position of Group President and CEO

“Mr. Widdows is currently the Chairman of the World Shipping Council, which is based in Washington D.C., and is on the Advisory Boards of the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point NY and the International Transport Forum, based in Europe. He is a past Chairman of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement.”

Mr. Rickmers continued: “Ron brings a wealth of experience in container shipping and deep relationships within the industry, with shippers, governments and the financial community to his new role. The combination of the rich history and strong brand of Rickmers and the experience of this well-known shipping professional is a very positive development in the process of further expanding our successful enterprise with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific and American markets.”

The Rickmers Group is a diversified group of companies in the shipping sector, active in the business fields maritime assets, maritime services and logistics services. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the Group is represented worldwide by more than 20 own offices and a comprehensive network of more than 50 agencies. As a leading shipowner and ship manager, the Rickmers Group operates a fleet comprising more than 120 containerships, multipurpose vessels, car carriers and bulk carriers.

February 15, 2012