New board program is popular among prominent shipping CEOs

Frontline’s former chief executive is just one of several prominent names on the list of the first candidates from the Copenhagen Business School’s new maritime board program. See all the names here.
Photo: Privat, Ultrabulk, Lauritzen Bulkers og Asyad Group
Photo: Privat, Ultrabulk, Lauritzen Bulkers og Asyad Group

Several leading figures in the shipping industry have improved their resumes by graduating from the Copenhagen Business School’s (CBS) new board program for the maritime industry.

The first team of candidates completed the eight-day program earlier in February and have now – on paper – improved the probability of getting a future board seat – either as an addition to their executive position or if they pursue a board career independent of daily operations.

Among well-known graduates are Frontline’s former top exec and current CEO of Greek-based tanker Athenian Jens Martin Jensen and Lauritzen Bulkers CEO Niels Josefsen.

Ultrabulk’s former chief exec Per Lange, who is now in charge of Ultranav Denmark, is also among graduates.

And so are chief operational officers Flemming Carlsen from D’Amico Tankers UK and Franck Kayser from Asyad Shipping.

Many well-known players

ShippingWatch has asked several participants about the outcome of the program and whether they have current ambitions of pursuing board work.

The latter question was more difficult to get an answer to than the first. Here are two of the replies.

”It will benefit me in my current role to better understand and support my clients in maritime, as well as potentially joining a Corporate Board in the future,” states Director, Global Operations Cara Carter, who works for Halcyon Recruitment Pte Ltd. in London and Singapore.All Posts

”As a maritime professional, it was important for me to understand how boards are thinking and reacting to the challenges of today. My immediate ambition was not to join a board, but I will certainly look to building on the program learnings when the opportunity arises,” says another participant, Managing Director at Stena Bulk Aayush Giri, to ShippingWatch.

Here are the names of all candidates from the new program:

  • Aayush Giri, Managing Director, Stena Bulk
  • Anders Lund Kristensen, Executive VP, Milaha Group
  • Anette Ryde, General Counsel, Maersk Tankers
  • Anne-Christine Ahrenkiel, Executive Vice President, DFDS
  • Bengt-Erik Rosin, CEO, Meriaura
  • Cara Carter, Director, Global Operations, Halcyon Recruitment Pte Ltd
  • Chris Christensen, Group CEO, Comodality Group
  • Claes Eek Thorstensen, Executive Vice Chairman, Thome Group
  • Erik Jepsen Gejsing, CEO, Esbjerg Survey
  • Erwin Derlagen, COO, ENESEL
  • Eva Errebo, Head of Time Charter, Maersk Tankers
  • Flemming Carlsen, COO, D’Amico Tankers UK Ltd
  • Franck Kayser, COO, Asyad shipping
  • Gunnar Georgs, Managing Director, IRI International Registries GmbH AM
  • Henrik Uth, CEO, The Survey Association
  • Jakob Borgård Jørgensen, Managing Director, Falcon Maritime
  • Jens Martin Jensen, CEO, Athenian Group
  • Jens Riis Boesen, Managing Director, Union Bulk
  • Jesper Rishøj Pedersen, Fulltime Advisor, QTerminals, Qatar
  • Lars Bonnesen, CEO, United Heavylift Gmbh &Co
  • Martin Brau, Director, Ultranav Danmark
  • Mikkjal Poulsen, Director – Bulk Business Unit, Thome Group Managing
  • Niels Josefsen, CEO, Lauritzen Bulkers
  • Pavel Hernandez, CEO, OH Maritime Services
  • Peder Gellert Pedersen, Board member, different board positions
  • Per Lange, CEO, Ultranav Danmark
  • Rasmus Nagel, Managing Director, The Shipping Collective
  • Sebastian Brunila, Associate Vice President Newbuild, Royal Caribbean Group
  • Shi Jun Liu, CEO, Sinocrew Maritime Services
  • Svend Lykke Larsen, Director Commercial & Strategic Cocreation, IoT & Digital, Marlink

The program is especially focused on the major industry changes currently taking place within areas such as digitalization, cyber security, the green energy transition and the increasing industry regulations.

Supported by the Danish Maritime Fund, the course is the latest maritime program created by the CBS, which is also behind the shipping bachelor’s degree as well as the master’s degree, Blue MBA.