‘Power shift stunted in liner shipping’

AS THE current general manager: commercial at CMA CGM Shipping Agencies SA, owned and operated by CMA CGM, the third largest container shipping company in the world, Pam Yerushalmy believes there is not much she has not seen in her 20-year career in the industry. Reflecting on this time Yerushalmy notes that there has been a significant shift in the historically ‘man’s’ world of business in a broad spectrum view. “On an ever increasing basis the business world is seeing an accelerated evolution of women in leadership roles,” says Yerushalmy. “Women are filling senior leadership positions across the board,” she points out, highlighting Transnet’s Group chief executive Maria Ramos, as a great example within a local industry context. Keeping her view within the shipping market Yerushalmy believes that the shift in power is still however somewhat stunted in liner shipping. She began her career as a sales representative with Safmarine and from there moved on to various marketing and management roles for various lines before joining CMA CGM. In May 2004 CMA CGM and Grindrod created a joint venture to act as exclusive agents for CMA CGM and its liner shipping subsidiary agents in South Africa. The agency is now 100% operated by CMA CGM. Yerushalmy had been in a general manager position up until a year ago, when a managing director was appointed for the company, at which point she took up the general manager: commercial position. She believes that as with any business, reaching a management role in the shipping industry requires hard work and commitment. However, Yerushalmy is also quick to highlight that women in senior roles are not the only individuals that deserve recognition in the business world. “All roles carried by women in business need to be acknowledged,” she points out.