David Williams

Chief Product Officer | Ocean Freight | Tank Container | Airfreight | Supply Chain | Logistics & Services

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

About

REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN EMERGING MARKETS. I am a diversely experienced, people and customer centric business leader with a record of delivering successful change and transformation in a wide variety of global organizations. I am passionate about developing people and teams in order to meet customers' needs. Whilst the majority of my experience has been within one of the world’s largest logistics and supply chain businesses, this has included a range of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and of running separate divisions and organizations within the wider company. As a result, I have extensive experience in revenue growth, efficiency improvement and profit maximization.

Experience

  • LESCHACO - Lexzau Scharbau GmbH & Co. KG ()
    • Chief Product Officer
      Nov 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    • Global Head of Tank Container
      Jan 2024 - Nov 2024 · 11 mos

  • Maersk Africa Region Managing Director at A.P. Moller - Maersk
    Aug 2016 - Aug 2023 · 7 yrs 1 mo

    A privilege to work with ~2,000 self-motivated, talented colleagues across 48 countries. The highlight was working with the Africa Leadership Team, interpreting and applying the global strategy to the African context. Valuable experience evolving from an ocean carrier to an aspirational supply chain integrator.

  • Safmarine (5 yrs 6 mos)
    • Global Head of Safmarine
      Jul 2015 - Dec 2020 · 5 yrs 6 mos

      Without doubt, the most rewarding and enjoyable chapter of my career working with Renato Silva, Campbell Smith and 1,200 engaged, customer focused Safmariners in 85 countries.

    • CEO
      Jul 2015 - Jul 2015 · 1 mo

      An interesting challenge setting Safmarine's future role and "reason for being" within the AP Moller - Maersk Group.

  • Maersk Line (14 yrs 11 mos)
    • Head of East & Central China
      Jul 2012 - Jun 2015 · 3 yrs

      We developed individuals and team across China to achieve the shared ambition of becoming the largest exporting area out of 32 globally.

    • Managing Director - Southern Africa
      Jan 2008 - Jun 2012 · 4 yrs 6 mos

      The role evolved over the period from 2008 to 2012. Initially the focus was on the implementation of the global Maersk Line strategy, streamLINE which entailed a structural re-organisation. The focus remained largely internal with subsequent reorganisations reducing the team from 320 staff to 180 staff, achieved through the centralisation of customer service centres in Durban and Cape Town. The scope of the position was expanded at in 2011 by merging the Mozambique 'cluster' [Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi] with the South Africa cluster [South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho]. While continual organisation change required significant internal focus, this was balanced with customer and stakeholder engagement.

    • Managing Director
      Oct 2004 - Dec 2007 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  • Senior Commercial Manager at Deutsche Afrika-Linien / John T. Essberger Group of Companies
    Jul 1997 - Jul 2000 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    Seconded from Safmarine to head up the southbound business in the SAFDAL (Safmarine - Deutsche Afrika Linien) Joint Venture.