APM Terminals Nigeria has announced that Frederik Klinke will assume the role of country managing director on 1 January 2023, replacing Klaus Holm Laursen, who moves to the position of head of joint ventures in Africa and Europe.
Klinke is Danish and has been with A.P. Moller – Maersk since 2006. He holds a Master of Science degree in Economics from Copenhagen University and a strategic finance degree from IMD Business School in Geneva and has also participated in leadership courses at Esade Business School in Spain and IMD.
His past roles include chief financial officer of APM Terminals Tangier and Suez Canal Container Terminal in Port Said, as well as managing director of Douala International Terminal (DIT).
Most recently, he held the role of regional head of finance for Africa & Middle East, prior to becoming head of joint ventures, Africa and Europe. In his new role, Klinke will be based in Lagos.
“Frederik has strong links with Africa and in his previous roles, he saw several major projects materialise on the continent, including the completion of upgrade in West Africa Container Terminal in Nigeria (WACT), investments in APM Terminals Liberia or the go-live of the new Côte d’Ivoire Container Terminal in Ivory Coast,” noted Igor van den Essen, regional managing director, Africa and Europe at APM Terminals.
Klaus Holm Laursen, who is replaced by Frederik Klinke, has been the managing director of APM Terminals Nigeria since 2020, when the country structure was introduced, combining the organisations of the two terminals in Apapa (APM Terminals Apapa) and Onne (WACT).
Klaus joined Maersk in 1998 and has had extensive experience across a range of strategic leadership roles. He served as managing director/chief executive officer of Aqaba Container Terminal in Jordan, Suez Canal Container Terminal in Egypt, Poti Sea Port Corporation in Georgia.
Klaus has also had roles in business development and finance with APM Terminals and Maersk, working in Copenhagen, The Hague, Seoul and Tanjung Pelepas. In his new role, Klaus will be based in Dubai.
According to Igor van den Essen, during Klaus’s tenure in Nigeria, the performance of the company has improved, with both facilities receiving substantial investments.
