Safmarine welcomes new year with appointment of Grant Daly as new CEO

Monday, 16 January 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Safmarine has announced the appointment of Grant Daly as its new CEO, effective 1 February 2012.

South African-born Daly, currently Safmarine’s Head of MPV (Multi-Purpose Vessel) unit, replaces Tomas Dyrbye, who has been Safmarine’s CEO for the past two and a half years. Daly joined Safmarine 17 years ago after graduating from the University of Stellenbosch with a Bachelor of Economics degree.

The appointment of a new Safmarine CEO follows the announcement, in October 2011, of the Maersk Liner Business’ intention to integrate the corporate and regional management activities of Safmarine into those of the Maersk Line, whilst retaining and growing a separate Safmarine brand and operating model.

Safmarine will continue to have its own independent pricing, capacity, sales and customer services structure, supported by more than 1,400 Safmariners located in 130 countries around the world.

As new CEO, Daly will be based at the new Safmarine headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark where he will report to Hanne B. Sørensen, Maersk Line’s Chief Commercial Officer.

Daly says: “For close on two decades I have been fortunate to enjoy a varied, exciting and immensely fulfilling career with Safmarine and it’s an honour to take the helm as chief custodian of the Safmarine brand. My immediate priority is to establish the Safmarine Centre team in Copenhagen and to ensure we provide Safmariners in the countries with the support they need to deliver on our Safmarine promise to customers.

I also look forward to meeting, and working with, Safmariners and customers in the months ahead; together we can build an even stronger Safmarine for the future.

He continues: “I also wish to thank outgoing CEO, Tomas Dyrbye, for his contribution to Safmarine. Under his tenure, Safmarine achieved record volume growth in 2011 and record profits in 2010.”

Hanne B. Sørensen adds: “The challenge - of making brand segmentation work without a separate management structure - is a new one in the shipping industry and we are delighted that Grant has accepted this challenge. We know he has the necessary Safmarine experience, skills and knowledge to build and grow a resilient and highly respected brand.

She continues: “We strongly believe that our multi-brand strategy, which will allow us to serve several and more customer segments with different products, is the path to a prosperous future for the Maersk Liner Business and we are committed to providing Grant and his new team with the support they need to grow the Safmarine brand info the future.”