Greenland shipowner Royal Arctic Line (RAL) is looking for a new boss after chief executive Verner Hammeken resigned.
The shipping veteran has been in the post for eight years at the Nuuk-based line.
RAL, owned by the government of the Danish-administered island, said he had been “at the forefront of a significant transformation” of the company. “During this period, there has been a significant renewal of the fleet.”
Hammeken oversaw the setting up of a new port in Nuuk and a cooperation deal with Icelandic owner Eimskip.
RAL said there had also been “significant renewals of both systems and organisation” in the Danish hub of Aarhus on Hammeken’s watch.
“New management skills are now needed to get the day-to-day operations thoroughly rooted in all levels of the organisation, and the board has therefore entered into an agreement with Verner Hammeken that he will resign as CEO,” RAL said.
“The board thanks Verner Hammeken for the significant efforts and transformation during the eight years that Verner Hammeken has been at the helm of Royal Arctic Line.”
At the same time, the group will start a process to find its next boss.
In the interim, chief commercial officer Niels Clemensen has been appointed acting CEO.
Available for advice
Hammeken will remain available to the company during the transition period.
RAL has a fleet of seven ships, including feeder container ships, cargo vessels and a ferry, valued at $58m by VesselsValue.
Hammeken has also been chairman of Arctic Umiaq Line, a 100%-owned RAL subsidiary, since 2016.
Before his stint at RAL, he spent 28 years at AP Moller-Maersk, most recently as head of Damco in central Africa for two years.
