Denmark's Maersk Broker is continuing to look at moving data online with the appointment of a digitalisation expert as a new director.
Anne Norklit Lonborg joined the shipbroker's board starting on Tuesday.
The experienced executive is chief information officer and senior vice president of IT and digitalisation at Nordic insurance company Tryg Forsikring.
The Danish shop said that with rapid technological development, its clients' digital requirements are also steadily increasing.
"In order to create additional value for our clients, be cost-effective and remain relevant, Maersk Broker's digital vision is therefore to expand our position as a leading broking house, also able to provide top-class data-driven advice and decision-making to our clients," the company said.
Chairman Kristian Morch, the chief executive of tanker owner Odfjell, added that Norklit Lonborg has "solid experience" with digitalisation and digital transformation and will be a significant support to the company.
He added that the plan is to "soon" be able to give customers the opportunity to access all commercial and operational services via digital platforms or portals.
Morch took over as chairman from Ane Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller in 2019.
The Maersk family is represented on the board by Christian Maersk Mc-Kinney Olufsen, who is the son of Kirsten Maersk Mc-Kinney Olufsen.
New decarbonisation tool
In July, subsidiary Maersk Broker Advisory Services (MBAS) launched a new partnership with management consultancy giant McKinsey & Company to help shipowners and operators cut carbon emissions.
The financial advisory unit said a new fleet decarbonisation optimiser tool will help users draw up a strategy on the issue.
The partners have joined forces to combine MBAS market research and McKinsey's artificial intelligence service QuantumBlack, which models ways to increase efficiency and use alternative fuels.
Earlier this year, Maersk Broker posted its smallest annual earnings in four years, but said 2021 should be stronger.
The shipbroker said 2020 ended with a net profit of DKK 37.4m ($6.1m), down nearly DKK 6m from 2019 and the lowest figure since 2016. Revenue dropped DKK 50m to DKK 345m.
In December 2020, the company told TradeWinds that it was overhauling its research offering by combining three key divisions into a strategic unit.
The leading Danish broker merged its research, advisory and valuations departments into a single team from 1 January.
