The World Shipping Council (WSC) has signalled a new era with industry veteran Ron Widdows stepping down after more than a decade at the helm.
He will be replaced by Hapag-Lloyd chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen who will co-chair the liner lobby together with Ocean Network Express (ONE) chief executive Jeremy Nixon.
The two men know each other well already as their companies are members of THE Alliance, together with Yang Ming Marine and South Korean operator HMM.
They are expected to share the chairmanship of the the Washington-based liner lobby for the next two years.
End of an era
The decision by Widdows to step down marked the end of an era for the liner shipping veteran, who for many years held high-profile positions, including as chief executive of Singapore's NOL Group.
Widdows has chaired the WSC since 2008 but had been expected to step down once his successor was appointed to the liner shipping body.
The WSC, which claims to represent about 90% of the global liner vessel capacity, has offices in Singapore, Brussels and Washington.
It describes its role as providing a “coordinated voice” for the liner shipping industry in its work with policymakers and other industry groups with an interest in international transportation.
“WSC today is the unified voice of liner shipping and covers a wide-range of industry topics, engaging with governments and organisations all over the world," Nixon said.
"We expect that to only expand as we head into the future, and WSC continues its work to shape the future growth of a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, safe and secure shipping industry.”
Matson and X-Press join board
The changes come as the WSC has expanded its board of directors to accommodate two new member companies.
Pacific liner specialist Matson Navigation and Singapore-based X-Press Feeders have joined and will take up board positions. Those seats will be occupied by Matt Cox, Matson’s chairman and chief executive, and X-Press executive chairman Tim Hartnoll.
"The (WSC) organisation is now well established as a trusted partner with governments and others interested in international transportation," said Habben Jansen.
