Hapag-Lloyd Strengthens Africa Presence with New Organizational Setup

Hapag-Lloyd has announced a strategic overhaul of its organizational structure across Africa, reinforcing the continent's importance in its Strategy 2030 and long-term growth plans. The restructuring increases the number of operational Areas in Africa from two to four, aiming to deepen the company’s market presence and enhance local responsiveness. This new structure will continue to be supported by the company’s existing Quality Service Center (QSC) in Mauritius.

As part of the transformation, the previous Area West Africa has been split into two:

1. Area West Africa (WAF): Covering countries from Mauritania to Benin, this Area will be headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and led by Thomas Elling as Area Managing Director, taking over from Vishal Bundhun.
2. Area Central Africa (CAF): Spanning Nigeria to Angola, this Area will be headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi assuming the role of Area Managing Director, also succeeding Vishal Bundhun.

Similarly, the former Area South Africa has been divided into two new Areas:

1. Area South Africa (SAF): Encompassing Namibia to Mozambique, this Area will be headquartered in Durban, South Africa, and will continue under the leadership of Rogelio Busto.
2. Area East Africa (EAF): Covering the region from Tanzania to Sudan, this Area will be managed from Nairobi, Kenya. Rogelio Busto will serve as Interim Area Managing Director until a permanent successor is appointed.

To ensure stronger coordination and strategic oversight, Hapag-Lloyd has also established a new Sub-Region Africa, based in Dubai, UAE. This Sub-Region, led by newly appointed Sub-Regional Managing Director Jesper Kanstrup, will oversee all four African Areas and the QSC in Port Louis, Mauritius, managed by Senior Director Ramcy Castelino. Sub-Region Africa will continue to operate under the umbrella of Region Middle East, which includes the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa.

“This transformation puts the customer at the center,” said Lars Sorensen, Senior Managing Director of Region Middle East. “We’re creating a structure that’s faster, more agile, and better aligned with the realities of each local market. This move highlights our commitment to Africa as a key market and our focus on empowering local leadership and expertise to deliver exceptional service.”

The revised structure underscores Hapag-Lloyd’s recognition of Africa’s expanding role in global trade and is designed to deliver sustainable, long-term value for customers throughout the continent.