Belgian gas shipowner and infrastructure company Exmar has unveiled a generational management shift as Carl-Antoine Saverys prepares to move into the chief executive role at the start of the new year.
Announcing the changes to its staff at the end of business today, Exmar said the 34-year-old, the son of Exmar executive chairman Nicolas Saverys, will step into the position on 1 January 2024.
Current CEO Francis Mottrie, who has been at the helm since 2020, will shift into a new chief operating officer role from the new year and, along with Exmar executive director shipping Jens Ismar, will remain on the company’s executive committee to support the transition.
Carl-Antoine Saverys’ new executive team will also comprise chief financial officer Hadrien Bown, who returned to work with Exmar earlier this year and executive director of infrastructure Jonathan Raes — a member of the executive committee since 2018.
In a statement, the incoming chief executive said: “With the upcoming global challenges, Exmar is perfectly positioned to play a major role in the further optimisation of the energy value chain. The team will continue to grow Exmar as a key player in the transportation and transformation of gasses through state-of-the-art assets.”
Mottrie, who steered Exmar through the Covid pandemic and the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, described the timing of the transition move as “excellent” and said it is a positive move for all stakeholders and employees.
“It has been one of my core objectives to create an organisation that values the development of talent. It’s an exciting change and I am very proud to hand over the wheel to Carl-Antoine.”
Nicolas Savery praised Mottrie for his guidance in leading the transition in the company and putting it in “an excellent position to tackle future opportunities with a strong balance sheet”.
“As executive chairman, I give my full support to my son Carl-Antoine and the team — Francis, Jens, Jonathan and Hadrien. Together they make an energetic executive team, and we have full confidence in their ability to build and grow the company further.
“It’s an exciting time for Exmar,” he added.
Speaking to TradeWinds, Carl-Antoine Saverys described himself as having been spoonfed on the market and Exmar’s strategic sectors of floating infrastructure on LNG and the transportation of ammonia — which, he said, are currently booming.
Readiness
He referenced his experience in shipping — Saverys has worked in chartering for his uncle’s company, Bocimar, and German owner Carsten Rehder — and infrastructure with Exmar.
He has been part of Exmar’s executive committee for a year and secretary of it for six years.
“I’m ready to take over this role and lead Exmar to the next challenges,” he said. “I’m at the prime of my life. If I don’t do it now, I won’t do it ever.”
Saverys is honest that friends questioned his decision to join the infrastructure division of Exmar at what was then a challenging time for the company. But he said, looking at his move with hindsight, “it was probably the best decision I ever made”.
He said he has had 15 years of experience in those six years and has had to up his game quickly.
In the first four years, he worked closely with Raes on the infrastructure side, negotiating and finding solutions on contracts linked to Exmar’s barge-based floating storage and regasification unit — now deployed in Eemshaven — and its Tango FLNG unit, which the company sold to Eni before shifting over to shipping.
Rough seas
Mottrie, whose objective during his tenure was to develop young leadership, described Saverys as “very eager to learn” and “extremely committed”. He said the new CEO is someone who values integrity, openness, transparency and working with people.
Saverys does not shrink from being part of the shipowning family behind Exmar.
“My father has never hidden the fact that he would like someone from the family to take over the reins at some point,” he said but added that he also gave him “full flexibility” in what he wanted to do.
Saverys senior stays on as executive chairman. On strategy, he will remain very present, his son said. “He’s been sailing through some rough seas, and his experience is very valuable.”
He revealed that the pair get along very well and have “constructive discussions” on business, which extend to life outside the office.
Looking ahead, the new CEO sees Exmar as both a shipowner and an infrastructure player.
He is realistic that big-ticket infrastructure projects of $1bn-plus are not something the company can undertake with its existing balance sheet.
Saverys said Exmar will continue to play a larger role in the emerging ammonia story while continuing its LPG shipping business.
But he said the company will tackle all with a shipowner mentality, explaining that Exmar’s lines of decision-making are very quick, while its technical teams will remain strong when ordering new assets — a reference back to the company’s historic shipyard roots.
“Looking forward … playing a large role in the floating infrastructure around ammonia will most likely be a role we will take,” he said.
