Svein Steimler heads the changes at NYK Europe

Following the decision of NYK Group to recall Europe chief executive and president Takuji Nakai to NYK Tokyo as a corporate officer on the NYK board and promote him to role of an adviser for the container division and president of NYK Container Line, there has been a reshuffle at the top of the Europe region.

Svein Steimler (pictured above) will succeed Mr Nakai as president and chief executive of NYK Group Europe – the first non-Japanese to hold these positions in NYK’s 131 year history.

Mr Steimler will also be appointed to the board of the International Chamber of Shipping, representing the Japanese Shipowners’ Association.

He joined NYK in 1998, to work on the group’s car and bulk trades in Europe and was appointed corporate officer of NYK Line in 2013.

Hideki Suzuki, currently managing director of NYK Group Europe, will succeed Mr Steimler as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the division, based in NYK’s regional headquarters in London.

Mr Suzuki joined NYK in 1987 and has held a range of positions, as well as a secondment to the cabinet office of the Japanese government.