Maersk looks for new UK/Ireland MD after Gary Jeffreys steps down

Maersk is on the hunt for a new managing director for its UK and Ireland region, after Gary Jeffreys (pictured) departed.

“Gary left Maersk early September,” a carrier spokesman confirmed to The Loadstar. “Guillaume Sauzedde, our Europe head of Logistics & Services product, will serve as the interim area MD for UK and Ireland until a permanent appointment is made.

“We will communicate Gary’s successor in due course,” he added.

Mr Jeffreys first joined Maersk’s UK commercial team in 2003 following its takeover of South African container line Safmarine. He has spent time in variety of positions in the UK and then at headquarters in Copenhagen.

In 2020, he joined CMA CGM as its UK MD and spent a year in the role before returning to Maersk in summer 2021 as its UK & Ireland MD.

In a LinkedIn post this week he said: “After 21 incredible years at AP Moller-Maersk and successfully completing a five-year transformation project, I’ve decided that it’s time for a new chapter.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Maersk, with a special mention to the outstanding UK & Ireland team, as well as our valued customers and suppliers for their unwavering support.”

However, there is speculation within the company that Mr Jeffreys may have been forced out, a source told The Loadstar.

“He was on holiday for two weeks and then signed off for a few weeks, followed by an announcement that he had left Maersk.

“So, in my opinion something has happened internally and this wasn’t his decision, but I guess we’ll never know,” the source added.

Mr Jeffreys roundly rejected the claims as “untruths”, noting that he “was on holiday then gardening leave, it’s unfortunately as boring as that”.

This story was updated on 2 February 2026 following news that Mr Jeffreys had been appointed as Zencargo’s EMEA SVP.