Samskip, a pan-European transport service provider, appoints Kari-Pekka Laaksonen as Group Chief Executive to implement customer-focused development plans.
Samskip, Europe’s biggest multimodal service provider group, secured Kari-Pekka Laaksonen’s services as Group Chief Executive Officer in an appointment that reflects its approach to more tightly align logistics services with its customer base’s company goals.
Laaksonen, who took up his post on 1 August 2019 at Samskip’s headquarters in Rotterdam, is the former CEO of Samskip’s Containerships competitor, where he led the aggressive development of the Finnish group from 2012. He also carries important shipping experience, having gradually taken on senior logistics positions in the chemicals, forest products and automotive industries.
“The chance to join Samskip is very interesting from a private point of perspective with its comprehensive transportation network across Europe,” says Laaksonen. “Competition is fierce, but through its short-sea, rail, barge and trucking network, Samskip achieves the distinctive equilibrium of providing economies of scale while preserving a private culture that reacts to possibilities rapidly and decisively.” He claims his strategy to Samskip’s logistics services will be customer-centric.
“My CV involves 20 years of experience with distinct shippers as a logistics specialist, which implies that I have a particular interest in understanding client requirements. With Samskip’s client base, I look forward to creating this strategy.” “I have known Kari-Pekka for many years, both personally and professionally, and have followed his achievement. I’m happy to have Kari-Pekka on board, “tells one of Samskip’s shareholders, Olafur Olafsson.
Over the past few years, Samskip and shareholders of Samskip have created strategic purchases. With the apointment of Kari-Pekka all companies, including Norlines and Samskip Logistics, will merge into one group. Laaksonen will lead six managers, including Ásbjörn Gislason, who will become Group Deputy CEO.
Kari-Pekka Laaksonen adds that he is proud to join Samskip as a sustainable transport organisation that relieves the congested highway network of polluting truck miles in Europe. “I think that when I speak to worldwide businesses, Samskip is the leader in identifying sustainable alternatives that decrease their carbon footprints; multimodal services are the true and practical solution. Samskip’s digital transformation is also impressive, placing the business in a highly competitive and developed place in our sector, ” he claims.