WorldStage Newsonline-- The new Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited (MNL) and Central West Africa CEO, Mr. Jan Thorhauge, has expressed the company's committment to maximise Nigeria's trade potential and delighting its customers.

Thorhauge who recently took over as the new helmsman of MNL from Mr. David Skov said, “I am excited to arrive in Nigeria at a time where Maersk Line is introducing 22 brand new container ships tailor-made for Nigeria designed to enable higher port productivity, increase trade potential and reduce logistics costs.

“Nigeria is heavily dependent on international trade to stimulate economic development and alleviate poverty and port efficiency is a key driver. Maersk Line's new WAFMAX vessels will support the port of Apapa in reducing their port turnaround times, thereby allowing exporters and importers to reduce their total logistic costs and creating conditions for continued trade growth.

“We have had excellent collaboration from NPA to facilitate WAFMAX vessel calling Apapa and we hope to replicate this success in Onne and Tincan. You can take pride from the important role your company plays in the economic development of the nation.”

Jan Thorhauge, 52, a Danish, joined AP Moller-Maersk Group in Copenhagen as a trainee in 1979 and holds amongst others INSEAD recognition having completed its Advanced Management Program.

He has spent the last 15 years leading various organizations in Africa. joined Maersk Kenya in 1994 and spent seven years there getting the group’s organizations and East African network off the ground. He spent four years as head of the Cameroun Cluster and the last two years in Angola . In between he was the Managing Director of Maersk Sri Lanka and prior to his East African adventure, he had also worked in Denmark , USA , South Korea and Saudi Arabia .

Maersk Line is the world’s largest container shipping company and a customer-focused leader in reliable, eco-efficient transport.