Skou replaces Andersen as Maersk Group CEO

Søren Skou

JUNE 23, 2016 —The Maersk Group Board of Directors today appointed Søren Skou as new Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, replacing Nils S. Andersen, who will leave the Maersk Group. The changes are effective July 1.

Søren Skou joined A.P. Møller – Mærsk since 1983 and has been a member of the Executive Board of A.P. Møller – Mærsk since 2006. In 2012 he was appointed CEO of Maersk Line and will retain this position in addition to his position as CEO for the Maersk Group.

“Søren has strong business acumen and thorough knowledge of the Group’s various businesses and has successfully restructured the businesses he has led. The Board of Directors knows Søren as a respected and knowledgeable leader with the ability to adapt quickly to market changes in close collaboration with the Board of Directors, the executive management and his employees,” says Chairman of the Board of Directors Michael Pram Rasmussen.

The Board of Directors says it “has tasked the new management to investigate the strategic and structural options to further increase agility and synergies” and says it  will communicate on the progress made before the end of third quarter 2016.

“I am excited about the opportunity to lead A.P. Møller – Mærsk into the next phase of our strategic development,” says Mr. Skou. “The fast-paced changes of this world demand that we can adapt quickly, easily and at a minimal cost while retaining the focus on each Business Unit. Our future set-up must effectively respond to these challenges.”

The Board of Directors says it acknowledges Nils S. Andersen’s dedicated and persistent contribution to A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S since 2005, first as Member of the Board of Directors and subsequently as Chief Executive Officer since December 2007.

“On Behalf of the Board of Directors I thank Nils S. Andersen for considerable results in fronting the Group’s international growth, strengthening the customer focus and competitiveness of the businesses, as well as simplifying governance and increasing transparency and communication with our stakeholders,” says Mr. Rasmussen.

“I am proud of the results we as a team have achieved in the Maersk Group during my leadership and 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. Søren has all the qualities it takes to take the Group through to the next strategic step and I wish him and the whole management team all the best of luck,” says Nils S. Andersen. “I’ve been incredibly happy and proud to work for A.P. Møller – Mærsk and it has especially been a privilege and a daily joy to work with so many very competent colleagues around the world. 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.”