HES International, Europe’s largest independent bulk terminal operator, is pleased to announce the addition of two highly accomplished professionals to its team, Søren Skou as the independent chair of HES’ Supervisory Board and Joop de Rooij as Chief Commercial Officer.
Søren Skou, with nearly four decades of experience, brings a wealth of leadership expertise. He served as CEO of Maersk between 2016 and 2022, with international experience in Denmark, the United States, and China. Notably, he also chaired APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary based in The Hague, Netherlands, from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Skou's extensive expertise in the ports industry positions him as a valuable asset to the team. Presently, he serves as the Chair of the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, spearheading initiatives aimed at discovering technical and regulatory solutions to drive the green transition within the Maritime industry. Furthermore, Mr. Skou holds the role of Vice Chairman at the prominent telecommunications equipment provider, Nokia.
Joop de Rooij, the former CEO of Fetim Group, an international trading company founded in 1919, joins HES International as Chief Commercial Officer. With a remarkable track record spanning 30 years, notably as Chairman of Corporate Finance and COO of KPMG Advisory, Mr. de Rooij specializes in operational growth, business development, financing, and mergers & acquisitions. Mr. de Rooij also served as an Industry Advisor and Operating Partner at Advent Private Equity, and as CFO of SHV holding. He is passionate about driving sustainable, profitable growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Mr. de Rooij will focus on enhancing sales and business development activities and growing HES's customer base, as the company expands its green energy offering and solidifies its position in agricultural goods, minerals, iron ore and liquids handling.
Cees van Gent, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of HES International, said: "We are excited to welcome these two highly experienced individuals to our team. Their collective knowledge and proven track record will play a pivotal role in realizing our growth ambitions, particularly as we navigate the evolving landscape of raw materials and energy transition.”
Søren Skou, said: “I believe HES International has the right vision and an exceptional team to achieve its strategic ambitions. I am delighted to be part of this forward-thinking organization and contribute to its continued success”.
Joop de Rooij, said: "I am thrilled to join HES International and lead its commercial operations. With HES's current market position and a clearly defined commercial strategy in place, I am confident that we can not only sustain our leadership but also explore new avenues for growth”.
About HES International
Contributing to the world of tomorrow, that’s what we do at HES. With 15 terminals in 5 countries at strategic ports in Europe we are an important switch in the continuous delivery of essential building blocks for our everyday life needed to develop, sustain, and improve the world around us. Our professional staff ensures that bulk commodities are safely stored, handled, and processed 24/7 for customers from all corners of the globe.
We have a strong ambition to further broaden our product portfolio and respond optimally to the opportunities that the energy transition offers us for products such as hydrogen, refrigerated gases and chemical recycling. In addition, we want to further strengthen our existing market position in agri, minerals and iron ore.
We aim to create long-term growth and value for all our stakeholders including employees, customers, shareholders and the communities and countries in which we operate. This is underpinned by our focus on safety and our core values of safety, integrity, respect, accountability, openness and entrepreneurialism.
HES International is headquartered in Rotterdam and has already been carefully handling bulk raw materials since 1908. Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, and West Street Infrastructure Partners III, managed by the Goldman Sachs Asset Management Infrastructure business, each indirectly control 50% of the shares of HES International B.V.
For more information have a look at www.hesinternational.eu or contact Esther Erkelens (Manager Corporate Communications HES International) via e.erkelens@hesinternational.eu