New Maersk CEO Soren Skou Mulls Revenue Growth
New AP Moller-Maersk chief executive Soren Skou is aiming for revenue growth according to an interview with the Financial Times. He reveals the task ahead after succeeding Nils Andersen.
Danish conglomerate boss said that the group was buffeted by short-term “headwinds” in all of its businesses — from the world’s largest container shipping line to oil production and drilling rigs.
“In the long term, we are challenged on top-line growth. Obviously, for us it’s important that we have a group that is both profitable but also has a growth path … If you have a business that isn’t growing the top line, it’s very hard to deliver attractive returns to shareholders,” said Skou, who is also head of Maersk Line, the group’s container shipping unit.
Revenues for Maersk last year were $40bn compared to a peak of $61bn in 2008. Under Andersen’s leadership Maersk had sold out of non-core businesses such as banking and supermarkets.
Søren Skou is the fifth CEO of AP Moller - Maersk, since its establishment back in 1904th. In the first 89 years the company was controlled by two top executives, namely AP Møller and his son Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, and the last 23 years by two intruders "hired hands."
First Jess Søderberg 1993 and 2007 Nils Smedegaard Andersen. It says something that the top management in Mærsk not "just" is about to hit a bottom line. Besides the commercial, there are also plenty of values ​​and emotions into play.
"The Board has asked me to look at the strategic opportunities. We are not starting out with a whole lot of "no's" or roads, we will not go. We will look at the whole menu of options," Skou said.
