Maersk Tankers, one of the world’s largest tanker pool managers, has raided compatriot shipowner Torm for its new global head of partner sales and service.
Industry veteran Susanne Jensen is due to take up the post in mid-August, according to a post on Maersk Tankers’ LinkedIn account.
Jensen will lead the company’s sales efforts to increase the number of vessels under commercial management and drive partner engagement with existing and new partners.
“We are in the midst of transforming our commercial function to boost the focus on providing valuable commercial services for shipowners,” said chief commercial officer Eva Birgitte Bisgaard.
“With her more than 20 years of experience in shipping, true service mindset and solid understanding of shipowners’ needs, Susanne is a strong fit for taking our service delivery to partners to the next level.”
Jensen is currently head of insurance and claims at Torm, a post she has held for close to nine years and which saw her appointed to the board in 2019.
Before that she spent almost three years as Torm’s vice president of shipowning and sale and purchase. That saw her take responsibility for vessel purchases and acquisitions, as well as sale-and-leaseback activities and newbuildings.
Prior to joining Torm, she spent just over three years at The Danish Shipowners' Accident Insurance Association, which provides global industrial injury insurance to seafarers.
Jensen’s career has also seen her spend close to 10 years within the J Lauritzen empire with her most senior role involving chartering and tonnage procurement.
During her time at Lauritzen she worked in both the bulker and reefer operations, which saw her based in Chile, South Africa, Sweden and Singapore.
Jensen is the third woman Maersk Tankers has appointed to a high-profile role at the Copenhagen-headquartered company in a little over 10 months.
Bisgaard joined in October 2020, while Annelise Goldstein was appointed chief human resources officer in early January this year.
Maersk Tankers has been on a growth trajectory in recent years, increasing the number of vessels under commercial management to over 220.
In January this year, it reported a 28% jump in the number of vessels under its commercial management in 2020-2021.
Maersk Tankers said it started 2021 with 21 new pool partners and said that it has seen a notable rise in pool partners from the Middle East and East Asia.
