Shipowners’ group Danish Shipping has a new chairman after four years.
Torm chief executive Jacob Meldgaard has handed over the reins to Torben Carlsen, CEO of ro-ro and ropax giant DFDS.
Carlsen, who was unanimously elected at the general assembly in Copenhagen on Thursday morning, said: “I would like to thank Jacob for his tremendous work for Danish Shipping. I am glad that he will continue as an ordinary member of the board, so we can continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience.”
The new chairman takes over at a time when the course towards a climate-neutral future must be maintained in a constantly changing world, the organisation said.
Carlsen forecast an “unpredictable time” for shipping.
“If there is an industry that is affected by the global situation with trade, security and geopolitical tensions, it is shipping,” he added.
“We literally sail to all corners of the world and are therefore among the first to feel the impact when global power dynamics shift.”
The board now includes Carlsen, with Caroline Pontoppidan of AP Moller-Maersk as vice chairman and Meldgaard as a director.
Board renewed
The other directors are Maersk Supply Service chief executive Christian M Ingerslev, Norden CEO Jan Rindbo, Lars Simonsen of MH Simonsen, Peter Lytzen at Esvagt and Thorsten Jalk of Ziton.
After the general assembly, the organisation scheduled its “festive day” for representatives from the shipping industry, maritime authorities and other partners.
The theme is “How do we navigate in an uncertain world?”, with a focus on the geopolitical situation and its consequences for shipping.
There will be debates on how to maintain the green focus and address the diversity challenge while the world is in turmoil.
