Maersk begins staff reductions, eliminates 110 positions at Copenhagen HQ

As part of the Danish ocean carrier’s cost cutting plan, Vincent Clerc will replace Stephen Schueler as chief commercial officer, while Michael Hansen will move from Seago to become Maersk’s global head of sales.    Maersk Line has begun the process of reducing its workforce, eliminating 110 positions this month at its headquarters in Copenhagen where 1,125 persons worked previously.
   The positions are being eliminated as part of a plan announced Nov. 4 that seeks to reduce sales, general and administration costs by $250 million. The world’s largest ocean carrier said it would reduce its landside staff of 23,000 by 17 percent (around 4,000 jobs) by the end of 2017. Maersk has said that it would seek to reduce layoffs through “managing natural attrition.”
   In a statement, Maersk said “commercial and trade and marketing functions will be merged into one commercial function.”
   “The new function will be headed by Vincent Clerc as new chief commercial officer (CCO),” said Maersk. “Vincent has worked for Maersk Line since 1997 and has been a member of Maersk Line’s management board since 2012 as chief trade and marketing officer.”
   Stephen Schueler, the former chief commercial officer, has resigned to return to the U.S. with his family. A former Microsoft and Procter & Gamble executive, Schueler joined Maersk in 2013.
   The company is also making a change in the management of Seago Line, Maersk’s intra-Europe brand. The current CEO of Seago Line, Michael Hansen, will return to Maersk Line to become the new global head of sales. He will be replaced by Søren Castbak, currently the head of the West Central Asia trade.
    “To create a leaner, simpler and more focused commercial organisation we are also reducing the number of regional offices from eight to seven through merging our Asia Pacific (Far East and Oceania) and North Asia (China, Korea and Japan) regions,” Maersk added.