Maersk Broker is to overhaul its research offering by combining three key divisions into a strategic unit.

The leading Danish broker will merge its research, advisory and valuations departments into a single team as of 1 January.

Maersk Broker chief executive Anders Hald said the move was not expected to lead to any lay-offs, but was needed to create a more integrated service.

"We have been expanding on our research, in general," he said.

"Now we think we are at a level where we should be able to offer a better consolidated service to our clients."

As part of the restructuring, the advisory service of the broking shop will focus on offering provision of capital through alternative financing and leasing, as well as corporate finance and consultancy services.

The business development activities, including valuations, will be merged into the advisory division.

"We'll use the various areas of expertise, with them joining force, being able to create something better and broader in all aspects," Hald said.

Revenue generating research

The newly merged department will continue to be headed by Niels Rasmussen, who remains the shipbrokers global head of research.

He will report to Jesper Bo Hansen, managing director of the brokers advisory services, as well as to Hald, who has headed the brokerage since 2014.

"The merged activities will lead the transformation of our current research offerings into a revenue generating research product portfolio," the company said in a LinkedIn post.

Maersk Broker added that the valuation services will "pioneer the digital transformation as a stand-alone operation" and will offer new digital and data driven services.

Wider restructuring

The shipbroker is hoping to match 2019's profit this year, despite the havoc wreaked by the pandemic.

The company reported net earnings of DKK 43.44m ($6.53m) for last year, down from DKK 55m in 2018.

Other changes have seen it work towards having 50:50 gender balance in its management teams by the end of 2023.

The total proportion of women employed in the group overall is about 30%, while the goal is to achieve a 40% to 50% share.

The privately-owned brokerage has expanded its dry cargo platform after growing the offshore platform in 2017, the company told TradeWinds last year.

It took full control of Wonsild Dry in December 2018, having first bought a strategic stake in the business back in 2015.

In January 2019, Maersk Broker Bulk Chartering became a shareholder in NAODAN Chartering, a specialist on North Americ's west coast, which boosted the company’s presence in the Pacific.