A founding partner of tanker giant Hafnia is leaving shipping after a 43-year career.

Anders Engholm will retire from pool company Hafnia Management on 1 June.

Engholm formed the Copenhagen management company in 2010 with Torben Bager, Peter Sebber Larsen and Soren Steenberg following a 12-year stint at Danish owner Torm.

BW Group-controlled shipowner Hafnia said that during his tenure, the executive contributed significantly in 2011 to the launch of the MR and LR1 pools, the latter of which turned into Straits Tankers in partnership with Mitsui OSK Lines of Japan.

He was then involved in the forming of Hafnia Tankers in Copenhagen in 2013 following a three-way merger with Blackstone, Tufton Group and Tankers Inc, which was founded by current Hafnia chief executive Mikael Skov, Jan Mechlenburg and Thomas Andersen.

Engholm then went on to play a pivotal role in the launch of the Hafnia Handy pool in 2014, as well as the merger between BW Tankers and Hafnia Tankers in 2019 to form the group as it is today.

The Specialized Pool followed that same year.

Since 2020, Engholm has been a key member of the pool management team.

“Working with wonderful Hafnia colleagues, partners, customers, and brokers over the years has been the single most important factor for me,” Engholm said.

“I feel proud for having started and leaving my mark in a true ‘people-first’ organisation.”

Exciting journey ahead

Engholm expressed sadness to be leaving shipping, but is excited about what retirement holds.

He hopes to stay in touch with the maritime industry and is set to take delivery of Anton, an Irish soft-coated wheaten terrier puppy.

Skov thanked the founding partner for his years of dedication, commitment, friendship and mentoring.

Skov said this has been “both immeasurable and invaluable over the years”.

“Anders has been instrumental in our enormous growth journey, and we could not have done this without his input,” Skov said.

Farewell events have been held for colleagues and external guests in both Singapore and Copenhagen during May.