MOL Liner moves functions to Hong Kong

   MOL Liner said T.K. Konishi has been promoted to chief executive officer effective June 21, succeeding Junichiro Ikeda who remains chairman of MOL Liner.
   Konishi said the company will shift its transpacific trade management to Hong Kong where it will locate all trade management function to and from the Asia region as well as all key global functions, such as global marketing and communications, yield management, procurement, network planning, operation and administration.
   The migration of transpacific trade management to Hong Kong will take place Aug. 1, and be led by Rich Hiller, who will be promoted from senior vice president to executive vice president.
   Transatlantic and Europe-Africa trade management will remain in the Netherlands under the supervision of Colin de Souza, senior vice president.
   Latin America trade management will remain in the United States, led by Tsunemichi Mukai, vice president. Mukai will lead a team in the United States to continue supporting transpacific trade management, including transpacific-North America pricing.
   Konishi said trade management and the global function heads will report to Yutaka Hinooka, chief operating officer.
   Hidetoshi Ito was promoted to executive vice president of MOL Liner and will continue to oversee ship management and marine operations.
   On July 1, a new global marketing and communications team was also set up under liner marketing and sales, led by Rick Kimura, senior vice president.
   Other changes at MOL include:

• Creation of a new section called liner fleet management and equipment procurement, led by Takanori Hida senior vice president.
• Creation of a liner yield management, equipment management and network operation section, led by Jotaro Tamura, senior vice president.
• Naming of Akira Kunimatsu, senior vice president, as head of liner network planning, succeeding Tamura.
• Naming of David Prado, senior vice president, to succeed Kunimatsu as manager of the Asia and Oceania trade management section. – Chris Dupin