Hapag-Lloyd ensures continuity within its management

At a recent meeting, the Supervisory Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG set the course at an early stage for maintaining continuity in the Executive Board of Germany`s largest liner shipping company.

Rolf Habben-Jansen will succeed Chief Executive Officer Michael Behrendt, who is set to leave in the middle of next year. Habben-Jansen (47) has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Company with effect from April 1, 2014 and will assume the position of Chairman of the Executive Board on July 1, 2014. Habben-Jansen is a successful and experienced manager in the logistics sector.

Having held positions at the Royal Nedlloyd Group and at DHL, he became CEO of the freight forwarding group Damco NV in The Hague in 2009.

Ulrich Kranich (63) will also leave the Company as planned on June 30, 2014 after 38 years. Kranich has been a member of the Executive Board since July 2006, where he has also held the position of COO since 2008 with responsibility for the operational management of the global shipping business.

Anthony J. Firmin (59), who has worked at Hapag-Lloyd for 18 years, has been appointed as Ulrich Kranich`s successor with effect from July 1, 2014. Firmin is a member of the Executive Committee - the extended circle of management below the Executive Board - and is currently in charge of Yield Management & Network.

Michael Behrendt (62) will depart the Company as planned on June 30, 2014, having already extended his contract again by a year at the request of shareholders. He was appointed to the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd in 1999 and has been Chairman of the Executive Board since the start of 2002.

"The Supervisory Board is certain that the appointment of Rolf Habben-Jansen and Anthony J. Firmin is a superb choice for the company. Both of them have many years of experience in the logistics and shipping sectors. It puts Hapag-Lloyd in an excellent position for the future," explained Dr Jurgen Weber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG.

"I am delighted with the Supervisory Board`s decision to appoint Rolf Habben-Jansen as my successor. Habben-Jansen is a manager who will successfully confront the major challenges in international liner shipping," said Michael Behrendt. < Korea Shipping Gazette >