Norwegian bulker and container ship group Torvald Klaveness is promoting ship-management boss Ernst Meyer to replace outgoing chief executive Lasse Kristoffersen.
Meyer is currently chief operating officer, as well as managing director of Klaveness Ship Management, and will take up the top job on 1 April.
Kristoffersen announced his departure last November.
Group chairman Trond Harald Klaveness said he was pleased to welcome Meyer as the new chief executive.
"Ernst has a wealth of experience from leadership roles at DNV and Klaveness, and has been an important contributor to our current strategy," he said.
The chairman said the board is delighted that Meyer accepted the role and the group is confident he is the right person to lead Klaveness into an exciting, prosperous future.
Two decades at DNV
Meyer has been with Torvald Klaveness since 2019, having previously spent close to 20 years with Norwegian classification society DNV in various executive positions.
He was vice president of offshore when he was recruited to oversee the Klaveness fleet.
Meyer replaced Bent Martini, who left to become COO at domestic cruise ferry company Hurtigruten.
Kristoffersen is also an ex-DNV man.
Meyer holds a master's degree in science in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
He said: "I sincerely appreciate the board's confidence in trusting me to lead Torvald Klaveness."
The new boss pledged to uphold "Klaveness’ vision and values" as a fundamental part of how the group continues to execute its strategy.
'Unique' platform
"We have a unique business platform addressing the key issues of digitalisation and decarbonisation of our industries, and I look forward to growing and developing this platform together with the strong and capable team at Klaveness," Meyer said.
Chairman Klaveness explained the board's priority was to define what the company needs now and in the future.
"Ernst's broad international leadership experience and demonstrated history of managing large commercial responsibilities made him an ideal candidate from the outset," he said.
Kristoffersen is stepping down to become chief executive of Oslo-listed car carrier giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
He has been chief executive of Klaveness for 10 years.
The departing boss told TradeWinds in November that the decision to leave had been difficult and painful.
