Samskip hires former Maersk executive Hassing to go global

Samskip hires former Maersk executive Hassing to go global    Rapidly expanding Icelandic shipping line Samskip has appointed former Maersk executive Michael F. Hassing as chief executive officer and major shareholder, effective July 1, as part of a plan by the regional carrier to go global.
   In March, Samskip also appointed Flemming Jacobs, a former partner of A.P. Moller and one-time head of Maersk Line, as a director.
   Hassing was CEO of shipowning company The Maersk Co. Ltd. in    the United Kingdom and regional manager for the U.K./Ireland area of Maersk Sealand. He resigned from the Danish group in April.
   Also on July 1, Samskip’s Rotterdam-based CEO 'sbj'rn G'slason will become an equal shareholder and transfer to Reykjavik.
   Hassing will be responsible for developing Samskip’s container shipping and international forwarding businesses while G'slason will have responsibility for Samskip’s domestic operations, as well as overseeing the reefer logistic activities which include relevant parts of the recently acquired Dutch Kloosterboer Group and the reefer vessel operation of Silver Sea.
   “Michael has an enormous amount of experience that is highly relevant to Samskip and our future plans. He will be one of the main shareholders and will have a crucial role to play in making Samskip a truly global company,” said 'lafur 'lafsson, Samskip’s chairman.
   In April Samskip acquired the Dutch intra-Europe shipping and intermodal operator Geest North Sea Line and 'lafsson said Samskip plans to develop its business further through organic growth and by acquisition. “We also plan to expand our international reefer forwarding activities, especially in the eastbound and westbound trades between Asia and Europe,” 'lafsson said. “As an Icelandic company, Samskip has accumulated a great deal of knowledge regarding the transport of seafood products and we want to utilize this expertise on an international stage.”