There’s a new management strategy, plus a new man at the SA helm of Höegh Autoliners – whose massive, slab-sided car carriers are frequent visitors to the Durban car terminal, Southern Africa’s major artery for vehicle imports and exports. New to the MD’s post is Lee Sayer, direct from a stint in Tokyo as GM of the used-car division at Höegh Autoliners KK where he was responsible for used vehicle exports from Japan to the rest of the world. He replaces Per Folkesson who has been appointed head-of-region for Middle East, India, South East Asia, Oceania and Africa. The new management style, designed to enhance the line’s international presence and sales activities, according to Carl- Johan Hagman, CEO of Höegh Autoliners Holdings, sees Hoegh going through a global restructuring into a decentralised organisation. Regional offices, he told FTW, are empowered to further improve the service level, shorten communication lines and provide decisions close to customers. “Regionalising the commercial activities builds on the successful implementation of operational areas previously carried out,” said Hagman. “These steps are taken as part of a global process to make Höegh Autoliners quicker, smarter and better at servicing its customers.” While concerned about the current global crisis, Hagman is optimistic in his future outlook. “We believe that in the long term prospects are good in our business segment and we will continue growing with our customers when the market recovers.” Höegh Autoliners started its roll-on, roll-off (ro/ro) car carrier operation in 1969 and deploys some 70 owned and chartered vessels in its global trade systems – managed from a worldwide network of 30 offices, and carrying about 2.1-million car equivalent units (CEU) a year according to its 2008 records. The local area offices in this region of the world are Johannesburg, Dubai, Mumbai and Auckland.
