Maersk Line has recruited Stephen Richard Schueler as chief commercial officer effective May 27.
Schueler, 46, came from Microsoft Corporation where he was the head of global retail sales and marketing.
Prior to Microsoft, Schueler was with Procter & Gamble for more than 20 years, assuming a variety of roles across Europe, South America, and Asia before becoming the company’s head of global retail sales.
“Stephen has developed and led the global sales operations of two of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies with great results. We are focused on improving the way we sell our services to customers in order to reach volume and profit targets and Stephen brings valuable insight that we hope to leverage,” said Maersk Line CEO Soren Skou in a statement.
He added that with Schueler’s extensive international sales experience, “he is exactly what we are looking for to further strengthen the Maersk Line sales force.”
Schueler takes over from current chief commercial officer Lucas Vos, who left his role May 1.
As CCO, Schueler will be responsible for more than 9,000 employees in 125 countries, which includes the global country organizations and all global sales, customer service, and communication-related tasks.
Schueler, an American, graduated with a degree in Marketing from the Miami University of Ohio in 1988 and received his M.B.A from San Francisco State University, California, in 2002.
Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd announced that Jesper Praestensgaard, who has been responsible for the global markets and global accounts departments on the executive board since January 2011, will leave the company at his own request in June to take on new challenges.
Until further notice, Michael Behrendt, chairman of the executive board, will assume responsibility for the departments, a company statement said.
