Svein Steimler (Photo: NYK)

Svein Steimler has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of NYK Group Europe, effective April 1, 2017, succeeding Mr. Takuji Nakai. He is the first non-Japanese to hold such positions in NYK’s 131 year history.

Steimler will also be appointed board member of the In[ds_preview]ternational Chamber of Shipping, representing the Japanese Shipowners’ Association.

Having joined NYK in 1998, to assist in ensuring the group’s growth in the car and bulk trades in Europe, Mr. Steimler was appointed Corporate Officer of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) in 2013. With some 40 years‘ experience, Mr. Steimler is a well-known figure within the industry, receiving a doctorate in Maritime Operations from Solent University, Southampton in 2012.

Mr. Hideki Suzuki, currently Managing Director of NYK Group Europe Ltd, will succeed Svein Steimler as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NYK Group Europe.

Suzuki will take up his new position with effect from April 2017 and will be based in NYK’s regional headquarters in London. He joined NYK in 1987. Over the years he has had a range of duties and positions in NYK, as well as a secondment to the cabinet office of the Japanese Government. With over 30 years’ experience in the shipping industry, Mr. Suzuki brings a vast knowledge and experience of both the car carrier and liner shipping markets to this  role.