Vincent Clerc will be the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Danish shipping company A. P. Møller - Mærsk A/S, replacing Soren Skou who will step down after almost seven years.
Vincent Clerc, currently CEO of Maersk's ocean & logistics business, will succeed as CEO of the Copenhagen-based firm effective from 1 January 2023.
"For almost seven years I have worked together with my team to change the business model, the culture, the digital backbone, and the results to make Maersk a profitable growth company again," said Soren Skou, who pointed out that "now is the right time for Maersk, for Vincent, and for me to make this transition."
He went on to add, "We have never been stronger financially and we have an inspiring and visionary plan for the continuation of our global integrator strategy that will guide Maersk for many years to come. I have worked closely with Vincent for more than a decade and I am confident that he is ready to take the Company to the next level."
Since 2019, Vincent Clerc has been the CEO of Maersk Ocean & Logistics and, according to Robert M. Uggla, chair of the board of directors of Maersk, Clerc has been a pivotal leader for the company's transformation, demonstrating great strategic acumen, an ability to execute complex plans and deliver long term shareholder value through compelling customer solutions.
Clerc commented, "I am thrilled by the trust the Board is showing by giving me the opportunity to lead the next stages of our transformation. It is a privilege for me to lead a company with such a long heritage, strong values, and tremendous potential. I am looking forward, together with the leadership team and all the Maersk colleagues around the world, to take it to the next level, building on the very strong foundation we obtained with Soren at the helm, and delivering on our promises to customers, shareholders, and to the society at large."
Maersk's new leader stated, "On the heels of a pandemic, and now with the war in Ukraine and an energy crisis upon us, there are many tough challenges ahead; challenges that impact us all and where Maersk can make a difference. Companies are rethinking their supply chains in this new environment, they are looking for more stability, and more support on their decarbonisation journey. This represents an incredible business opportunity for Maersk that we all are eager to seize."
Robert M. Uggla, chair of the board of directors of Maersk, noted, " During his tenure as CEO of Maersk, Soren has been instrumental in redefining Maersk into a customer centric end-to-end logistics provider with a global leadership position in sustainable transportation solutions. On behalf of the Board, I sincerely thank Soren for his valued leadership and impressive results."
