Vincent Clerc to take Maersk CEO role

AP Møller–Mærsk has announced that its chief executive officer Soren Skou is retiring, with current ocean and logistics business CEO Vincent Clerc lined up to replace him in the new year.

Skou took up the role as CEO of the global logistics giant in 2016 and, according to the company, helped ”set it on a new growth trajectory”.

“Soren has contributed to our group’s development over almost 40 years, of which eleven years as CEO for Maersk Tankers, four years as CEO for Maersk Line and close to seven years as CEO for Maersk,” said Robert Uggla, chair of the board of directors at Maersk.

”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,” he continued.

”On behalf of the board, I sincerely thank Soren for his valued leadership and impressive results. I am equally grateful for Soren’s support in the CEO succession review making sure the company does not lose any momentum in its strategic endeavours in a changing and difficult market.”

Skou noted that he had worked throughout his tenure to change the business model, culture, digital backbone and the results to make Maersk a profitable growth company.

He thanked the board, Maersk’s main shareholder, his executive team and global colleagues for their trust and support.

”Now is the right time for Maersk, for Vincent, and for me to make this transition,” he said. “The company has executed very well over the past years. 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,” Skou added. ”I look forward to a new chapter in life where I will continue to work at non-executive level and have more time for my family and for other interests.

Uggla said that the board was pleased to announce Clerc as the new CEO of Maersk.

”He has been a pivotal leader for Maersk’s transformation, demonstrating great strategic acumen, an ability to execute complex plans and deliver long term shareholder value through compelling customer solutions,” Uggla outlined.

”The strong tail winds that benefited the supply chain industries during the pandemic are coming to an end. With an increasingly challenging outlook, the board believes Vincent holds the right experience and capabilities as CEO to pursue and oversee Maersk’s strategic and organisational development in the years to come.”

Clerc said he was “thrilled” by the trust the board was showing by giving him the opportunity to lead the next stages of Maersk’s transformation. I

”It is a privilege for me to lead a company with such a long heritage, strong values, and tremendous potential,” he said. ”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.

”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,” Clerc continued.

”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.

”It will demand of us that we stay the course on our strategy, delivering on our digitalisation and decarbonisation roadmaps, while keeping a sharper than ever eye on our operational excellence and performance,” he added. ”When we do that, we will make a profound positive impact for all our stakeholders.”