Tomas Dyrbye

Safmarine has revealed that Tomas Dyrbye, who currently occupies the position of regional manager for northern Europe at Maersk Line, is set to take on the role of chief executive officer at the shipping group.

Mr Dyrbye, 51, will take up his position at Safmarine during the third quarter of the year, the company said. He has occupied various roles at parent group A.P. Møller-Maersk since 1985, including country manager for India and CEO for the Nordic and Baltic area for Maersk Line and Safmarine.

'I am delighted to accept this new challenge,' he said in a statement. 'I am a believer in team-based management and delegating decision-making power to boost growth. I look forward to working with my new Safmarine colleagues to extend the company's success further.'

Mr Dyrbye will step into the position vacated by Ivan Heesom-Green, who has been appointed as Maersk regional manager for Africa and managing director of Safmarine Ltd of South Africa.

'It's been an exciting six years for me in which we have seen Safmarine double in size, add 19 newly-owned ships to our fleet and even witness modest growth in the first quarter of the year, which is a great reflection on Safmariners' performances on shore and at sea,' Mr Heesom-Gleen said. 'Africa continues to show great potential for sustainable growth through trade and I look forward to playing my part to create those opportunities.'

He will occupy the seat left by Lars Reno Jakobsen, who is moving to the position of head of network and product and member of the liner management board for Maersk Line in Copenhagen.