Hapag-Lloyd has unveiled a major reorganization of its operational structure across Africa, reinforcing the continent’s role as a strategic priority under its long-term Strategy 2030. The restructuring aims to enhance agility, bring leadership closer to customers, and improve service delivery by tailoring operations to regional needs.
Two-area model
To strengthen its presence across key African markets, Hapag-Lloyd is moving from a two-area model to four distinct regions: West Africa (WAF): Covering territories from Mauritania to Benin, this newly defined area will operate out of Accra, Ghana. Thomas Elling has been appointed as Area Managing Director, succeeding Vishal Bundhun.
Central Africa (CAF): Encompassing countries from Nigeria to Angola, this region will be managed from Lagos, Nigeria, with Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi stepping in as Area Managing Director, also succeeding Bundhun.
South Africa (SAF): Including markets from Namibia to Mozambique, this area will continue to be led by Rogelio Busto and be headquartered in Durban, South Africa and East Africa (EAF): Spanning from Tanzania to Sudan, operations will be directed from Nairobi, Kenya. Rogelio Busto will serve as interim Area Managing Director until a new appointment is made.
The newly expanded structure will be supported by the company’s Quality Service Centre (QSC) located in Port Louis, Mauritius, under the leadership of Senior Director Ramcy Castelino. The QSC plays a critical role in maintaining operational efficiency and service quality across the continent.
In addition, Hapag-Lloyd has set up a new Sub-Region Africa based in Dubai, UAE, to oversee all four African areas and the QSC. This sub-region is headed by Jesper Kanstrup, who will serve as Sub-Regional Managing Director. Sub-Region Africa will continue to be part of the company’s broader Middle East Region, which includes the Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent, and Africa.
Lars Sorensen, Senior Managing Director for the Region Middle East, emphasized that the reorganization is part of a customer-first initiative. According to him, the new setup will make the company more responsive, adaptable, and aligned with the realities of local markets across Africa.