Felder and Smit take on new roles at Maersk Line

ALAN PEAT THERE’S BEEN a significant change in the management structure at Maersk Line, with the appointment of new helmsmen for the Gauteng/Botswana region, and an area sales manager for the entire market in sub-Saharan Africa. Moving from the Gauteng position to the regional post, Steve Felder has replaced Curtis Flynn who left to join the line’s global sales division in Copenhagen. Felder now takes the wheel for 48 African countries and has responsibility for all sales activities – “the area from Mauritania to the Horn of Africa, down to SA and across to Mauritius,” he told FTW. Each country has its own manager for Maersk Line, and the largest amongst them also have sales managers, with smaller countries having at least sales ‘focals’. “In the African regional head office in Cape Town,” said Felder, “we act as the supportive control for them, and form the bridge between the African market and head office in Denmark, to ensure strategic alignment and safeguard market share.” Co-ordination and alignment are the two words which dictate Felder’s management life. “Organising training and development; developing new sales systems and tools; and supervising the sales and e-commerce systems in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “That is all part of my role.” Gail Smit, meantime, taking on the position as regional manager for the Gauteng and Botswana region, has the best customer proposition and sales on her mind. “Obviously I intend to protect and gain market share for Maersk Line,” she said, “being able to offer my region a one-stop global shipping experience, and with a prime philosophy of customer service.” Her history with the line started with operations, and then moved into sales. “What I need in developing my new region is a subtle blend of the two functions,” Smit said. “To be able to put together the most attractive option for our clients.”