Caroline Pontoppidan, who for the last ten years has assumed a prominent role at Maersk as General Counsel, is to become new board member at trade association Danish Shipping, replacing Maersk’s former fleet chief Palle Laursen on the vice chair position, ShippingWatch learns.

In late January, Maersk bid its long-serving head of fleet operations farewell as part of widescale organizational changes at the group launched by new CEO Vincent Clerc.

After six years on the post and 25 years with the company, Laursen has left Maersk altogether.

Danish Shipping thus needs a new vice chair as well.

Laursen assumed the role on Danish Shipping’s board in June 2022 when he replaced Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, also a Maersk executive.

More responsibilities at Maersk

According to ShippingWatch’s information, Pontoppidan now joins the board, which consists of eight members and is chaired by Torm CEO Jacob Meldgaard.

Pontoppidan is up for formal election at the next general assembly at Danish Shipping. 

Pontoppidan has a long career at one of Denmark’s largest law firms, Kromann Reumert, behind her, serving as a lawyer and partner in the company, but since 2013 she has been in charge of legal affairs at Maersk and gradually been giving additional responsibilities.

From July 2013 until October 2016, she served as Vice President, General Counsel at the container business, Maersk Line.

She was then appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Head of Corporate Affairs for the entire Maersk.

When Clerc assumed the chief executive position on Jan. 1, he appointed a new executive team with a total of 17 members.

Pontoppidan was among these and given the title of Executive VP, General Counsel and Head of Corporate Affairs.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she holds global responsibility for legal affairs, compliance, communication and public affairs.

Her other board activities include private equity firm Axcel Management, Sealand Europe, Maersk Trade Finance and Maersk A/S.

English edit: Kristoffer Grønbæk