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Maersk transformation sees MCC and Seago folded into SeaLand brand

In the ongoing transformation of the AP Moller-Maersk group famous brands such as Damco, MCC Transport and Seago Line are set to be submerged.

The Danish company stated in a release today it will combine its offering for ocean products and supply chain services in order to offer more comprehensive end-to-end logistic solutions for cargo owners.

“This is the next step in the Maersk journey to become a global, integrated container transport and logistics company,” Maersk stated.

Effective January 1 next year Damco’s Supply Chain Services and Maersk Line’s Ocean Product will be integrated and their respective value-added services will be combined and sold as Maersk products and services. Maersk said the move was designed to ensure an improved customer experience with fewer touchpoints and a more comprehensive service offering.

The integrated commercial organisation will operate with one management team, one sales force, a product organisation and one customer experience organisation, 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.

Søren 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. Our employees play a key role in making this happen and therefore we are at the same time empowering our frontline organisation who is closest to our customers.”

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, A.P. 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 will be the CEO of Damco Freight Forwarding, stepping up from her current COO role.

In addition to these changes, three of A.P. Moller – Maersk’s regional carrier brands – intra-Asia line MCC Transport, Americas specialist SeaLand and intra-European player Seago Line – will go to market as SeaLand – A Maersk Company as of October 1 this year.

“The simplified naming structure for these brands will help strengthen brand recognition and ensure clarity of choice for customers,” Maersk stated.

“This integration marks a big milestone on Maersk’s current growth journey towards operating as one integrated company. We are in a strong position to deliver solutions that meet our customers end-to-end supply chain management needs, thereby tapping into markets covering the whole journey from producer to consumer by building on our business strengths,” Skou said.

Under Skou’s helm, Maersk has entered a period of dramatic change, looking to hive off all its energy and tanker holdings to focus on containers and logistics.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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