Shipping and logistics giant A.P. Moller-Maersk announced it will combine its ocean products and supply chain services by next year to be able to offer more comprehensive end-to-end logistic solutions for cargo owners. This is the next step in becoming a global, integrated container transport and logistics company, the group said in a statement.
On January 1, 2019, Damco’s supply chain services and Maersk Line’s ocean products will be integrated and their respective value-added services will be combined and sold as Maersk products and services.
“This will ensure an improved customer experience with fewer touchpoints and a more comprehensive service offering,” said Moller-Maersk.
The integrated commercial organization will operate with one management team, one sales force, a strong product organization, and one customer experience organization, headed by Vincent Clerc, chief commercial officer of Maersk. Klaus Rud Sejling, CEO of Damco, will take on a new position as head of Maersk’s logistics and services products, reporting to Clerc.
Soren Skou, CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk said: “Today we are taking further steps in the transformation of our business on a structural level and how we go to market, enabling us to offer more solutions to our customers in a simpler way. ”
The regional organizations will be responsible for solutions engineering and product bundling to ensure that the company can take decisions faster, further enhancing the customer experience.
Damco’s freight forwarding business, which serves customers requiring air freight or multi-carrier options in ocean freight, will continue to be run as a separate and independent business under the Damco brand.
By allowing Damco to focus fully on freight forwarding, Moller-Maersk said it aims to build a well-performing and global freight forwarding business that can grow and prosper.
Saskia Groen In’t Woud, currently chief operating officer in Damco, will be the CEO of Damco Freight Forwarding.
In addition to these changes, three of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s regional carrier brands, namely, MCC Transport, Sealand and Seago Line, will go to market as “SeaLand-A Maersk Company” as of October 1, 2018.
The simplified naming structure for these brands will help strengthen brand recognition and ensure clarity of choice for customers, the company said.
