More than three years after the takeover of Hamburg Süd by Maersk, the brand continues to stand for long-term, very close customer relationships. At the same time, Hamburg Süd was successfully integrated as part of A.P. Moller - Maersk and is now an integral part of the company's multi-brand strategy. The gradual, cautious integration has enabled significant synergies to be leveraged and maximum flexibility to be maintained for customers.

"We promised our customers that Hamburg Süd's DNA would remain unchanged during the integration process and that they would continue to receive the usual outstanding service from the hands of local Hamburg Süd teams. We have kept that promise," says Dr. Arnt Vespermann. "As part of A.P. Moller - Maersk's multi-brand strategy, the focus in future will be even more on implementing this strategy and strengthening our brand in the customer relationship - for example in key account management. For me, this is the ideal time to hand over the helm to Poul Hestbaek," says Vespermann.

"I would like to thank Arnt Vespermann for his great commitment in the important years following the integration. He was instrumental in ensuring that the integration of Hamburg Süd was so successful. In the year of the takeover, Hamburg Süd was even able to increase its transport volume, which is a sign of the extremely high loyalty of its customers," says Vincent Clerc, CEO Ocean & Logistics at A.P. Moller - Maersk. "Poul Hestbaek stands for continuity with his many years of service for Hamburg Süd. With his customer focus, he will further develop and strengthen Hamburg Süd within the Maersk brand family. This change of leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter in the long history of the highly respected Hamburg Süd brand.

Poul Hestbaek has been with Hamburg Süd since 2004 and currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). The 59-year-old shipping expert was previously responsible for the liner shipping company's commercial business on several continents, including Latin America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

Dr. Arnt Vespermann joined Hamburg Süd in 1999 as Head of the Legal Department, took over the management of the tramp shipping subsidiary Rudolf A. Oetker KG in 2006 and has been a member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd since 2009 and CEO of the company since the end of 2017.