Ms Hanne B. Sørensen has been appointed new CEO of Maersk Tankers with effect from 13 February 2012.

Hanne B. Sørensen has until now held the position as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Maersk Line and replaces Søren Skou, who recently assumed the position as Maersk Line CEO.

“Hanne B. Sørensen comes with experience and a strong track record within international shipping. I am therefore very pleased that Hanne has accepted the position as CEO of Maersk Tankers,” says Partner and member of the Executive Board Claus V. Hemmingsen.

“As Chief Commercial Officer of Maersk Line, Hanne has been key in applying a stronger customer-focus in the same time as making the global frontline organisation more agile and efficient. Hanne has proven that she has a strong strategic mindset and the capability to execute. I am convinced that Hanne is the right person to be at the helm of Maersk Tankers at a time that is challenging, but also with opportunities,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, who has the overall responsibility for Maersk Tankers (see note to the editor).

Commenting on the announcement, Hanne B. Sørensen says she looks forward to the leadership challenge: “This is a unique opportunity and I had no doubt when I was offered the job. I am new to the tanker business, but not new to working in a challenging and very competitive industry, and I look forward to working on developing Maersk Tankers’ leadership position.”

Hanne B. Sørensen joined the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group in Copenhagen as an economist in Maersk Line in 1994. Until 2001, she held various CFO positions for Maersk Line in India, Italy and Singapore. In 2006, she was promoted to Area Manager with base in Genoa, and in 2008, Hanne was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in Maersk Line.

Maersk Tankers operates 300 modern crude oil, product and gas tankers and is one of seven core businesses in the Maersk Group. Maersk Tankers is the world’s largest operator within product tankers. Overall, Maersk Tankers aims to have a leading market position in the three markets in which it operates – product, gas and VLCC – through a multiple brand strategy that includes, among others, the LR2 Pool, Handytankers, Broström and Nova Tankers, the newly announced VLCC pool.