Carsten Trolle to leave DSV after 40 years

Carston Trolle, DSV

Carsten Trolle, executive advisor at DSV, has announced his departure from DSV after 40 years with the company.  

Mr Trolle had spent over 39 years as the Danish logistics company’s CEO of Air & Sea Division from 1984 to 2024, largely based in the US, and transitioned to his current role as executive advisor in May last year.  

When he announced his move to “a more independent role with DSV” last year, Frank Sobotka took over as CEO of Air & Sea.  

Today (1 April), Mr Trolle said: “I will now leave the company. Guiding the Air & Sea division through some hard times and less tough years has been one of the greatest honours of my life. 

“It is with respect and deep appreciation that I look back on the journey of navigating mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and operational excellence over the years,” he added. 

Mr Trolle led DSV’s Air & Sea Division during the company’s acquisitions of SBS, ABX, UTi, Panalpina and Agility. Additionally, through major supply-chain disruptions such as the Suez Canal blockage, the financial crisis, Covid and many more. 

“Over the decades, global supply chain crises and political shifts have kept me on my best game,” he said.  

While Mr Trolle did not reveal his next career move, he said that “protecting shareholder value, company culture and maintaining governmental compliance in a worldwide environment” are areas of interest.

He concluded: “I have enjoyed mentoring and nurturing many of the younger generation while respecting experienced colleagues who have been through many of the changes many have not experienced. It has been a great pleasure to see staff taking chances based on trust and without second-guessing, and I can only encourage others to do the same.” 

Mr Trolle’s early career in logistics included working at Dan Transport, loading trucks and containers, handling customs clearance and carrying out road imports and exports. 

Dan Transport was then acquired by DSV, which allowed Mr Trolle to move into the ocean and air sector. He then joined Dan Transport’s US organization in 1991, which consisted of less than 30 colleagues at the time.