A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S has appointed Charles van der Steene as its new Managing Director for the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), reinforcing leadership across one of the company’s most commercially significant and complex regions.
The appointment came into effect on 1 January 2026. In his new role, van der Steene will oversee Maersk’s integrated logistics and end-to-end supply chain operations across markets spanning three continents, including some of the world’s fastest-growing trade corridors linking Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Van der Steene brings over 15 years of experience in logistics and supply chain management, including more than a decade with Maersk, which he joined in 2011. He has held several senior commercial and operational leadership roles across multiple geographies during his tenure with the group.
He previously worked in the IMEA region between 2016 and 2019 as Regional CEO of DAMCO, Maersk’s supply chain and logistics arm, prior to its full integration into Maersk in 2020. During this period, he led commercial expansion and operational transformation across key markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
Following his DAMCO role, van der Steene moved to North America, where he served in senior leadership positions including Head of Sales and Marketing, before most recently leading Maersk’s North America region. In that capacity, he was responsible for commercial performance, customer engagement and delivery of end-to-end logistics solutions across one of the company’s largest markets.
Maersk said the appointment underscores the growing strategic importance of the IMEA region within its global operations, as customers increasingly seek integrated logistics solutions combining ocean transport, inland logistics, warehousing and supply chain management.
Commenting on his appointment, van der Steene said he was “honoured to be leading our exceptional team across the IMEA region,” adding that the business supports customers operating in “some of the world’s most complex and rapidly evolving trade corridors.” He noted that the region’s strategic relevance continues to expand as it connects three continents and drives global commerce.
Focus on resilience and integration
Van der Steene said his immediate priority will be working closely with regional teams to deliver consistency, resilience and innovation across supply chains, while helping customers navigate disruption, regulatory complexity and shifting trade flows, particularly in emerging markets.
The IMEA region has emerged as a key growth engine for Maersk, supported by infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion and rising e-commerce activity across markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and several African economies. Maersk has continued to strengthen its inland logistics, warehousing and digital capabilities in the region to complement its global ocean network.
With van der Steene’s return to IMEA leadership, Maersk aims to build on this momentum while maintaining operational reliability and customer-focused solutions across one of global trade’s most demanding environments.
