Integrated logistics group A.P. Moller – Maersk has appointed Ditlev Blicher as Regional President for North America, effective Jan. 1, 2026, in a senior leadership change that comes as the company deepens its push beyond ocean shipping into end to end logistics.

The appointment, announced on Dec. 30, places a long serving global operator at the helm of one of Maersk’s most commercially critical regions, spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. North America is central to Maersk’s integrated logistics strategy, covering ocean, inland transport, warehousing, and contract logistics for major industrial and consumer shippers.

Market and operational impact

Blicher moves from his role as Regional President for Asia Pacific, which he has held since 2023, bringing experience across complex trade lanes, port centric operations, and multimodal logistics. His appointment signals continuity in Maersk’s effort to align regional leadership more closely with its global transformation away from a pure container shipping model.

North America remains a key growth market for integrated logistics services as shippers adjust supply chains amid nearshoring, geopolitical risk, and ongoing cost pressure. For Maersk, the region is also critical for inland rail, trucking, and warehouse capacity tied to US import and export flows, including project cargo, industrial equipment, and energy related shipments.

The leadership change does not alter Maersk’s operational footprint or service offerings in the region, the company said, but comes at a time when carriers are under pressure to deliver more predictable end to end supply chain performance.

Stakeholder reactions and next steps

“I’m looking forward to working with our talented team in North America to build on the progress they’ve made as we’ve evolved into a full suite logistics provider,” Blicher said in a statement. “Our focus will be on driving sustainable growth and strengthening operational excellence to deliver a best in class experience for our customers.”

Blicher joined Maersk in 2020 after senior roles across the forwarding and contract logistics sector. Prior to Maersk, he served as Asia Pacific CEO at DB Schenker, President for Asia Pacific and Europe in freight forwarding at UTi Worldwide, and Executive Vice President for Group Operations at CEVA Logistics.

He succeeds Charles van der Steene, who has served as Regional President for North America since January 2024.

Van der Steene will move into the role of Managing Director for Maersk’s India, Middle East, and Africa region. He previously led Damco as Regional Managing Director from 2016 to 2019, before the freight forwarding brand was integrated into Maersk.

Wider context and industry outlook

The leadership reshuffle reflects a broader trend among global carriers and logistics providers to rotate senior executives across regions as trade patterns evolve. For North America, rising nearshoring activity, infrastructure investment, and energy transition projects continue to drive demand for complex logistics and project cargo capabilities.

Maersk, which operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people, has said it is targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 across its business, adding another layer of operational and investment complexity for regional leadership.

Blicher’s appointment positions Maersk to maintain strategic continuity in North America as customers demand more integrated, resilient, and lower emission supply chain solutions.

Source: Breakbulk News