Management
We would like to introduce you to the members of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG with their career profiles.
Michael Behrendt
Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG
Michael Behrendt
Michael Behrendt was born on June 19th 1951 in Hamburg. He studied law at the University of Hamburg, ending his training at Hanseatisches Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court), graduating by passing the “Assessor” examination.
While a student, Michael Behrendt gained practical experience at various companies in the USA. He joined VTG Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH in 1985 and was appointed managing director in 1994.
In 1999, Michael Behrendt was appointed Executive Board Chairman of VTG-Lehnkering AG, resulting from the merger between VTG and Lehnkering AG, and Member of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG. He has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG since January 1st 2002. Hapag-Lloyd acquired the shipping line CP Ships at the end of 2005 and successfully integrated it within a year, thereby becoming one of the top five world container shipping lines.
Additionally Michael Behrendt was appointed Ordinary Executive Board Member of TUI AG with effect from May 10th 2006.
Michael Behrendt is also Vice President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and a member of various supervisory and advisory boards.
Adolf Adrion
Member of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG
Adolf Adrion
Adolf Adrion was born on March 22nd 1940 in Hamburg. In 1957, he joined Hapag, one of the shipping lines that later merged to become Hapag-Lloyd. He began his nautical career as a ship's boy and went on to acquire his master's certificate.
In 1970, Adolf Adrion was appointed head of the Hapag-Lloyd container service area, where he was responsible for worldwide container logistics, global terminal operations and container management. In 1983 he took over the management of the Indonesian trade. Two years later, Adolf Adrion was appointed Managing Director of European Sales and Marketing. In 1997, he was appointed Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Container Line responsible for Region Europe.
Adolf Adrion was appointed a member of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG in 2004. He is also Chairman of the Far Eastern Freight Conference (FEFC), as well as Chairman of the World Shipping Council and Chairman of the Box Club, both important international container shipping industry associations.
On January 25th 2006 Adrion was appointed Divisional Director Shipping to the TUI Group's Executive Committee.
Ulrich Kranich
Member of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG
Ulrich Kranich
Ulrich Kranich was born on March 10th 1950 in Hamburg. After training as a forwarding professional, from 1972 he studied business management in Bremen, graduating in 1974.
Kranich has been with Hapag-Lloyd since 1975, serving in various positions in Germany and other countries, particularly in the cost management and controlling areas, as well as assuming responsibility for various trades. He was appointed Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Container Line GmbH in 1997. In this function, Kranich was responsible for the entire fleet expansion and for the controlling of ship and container system costs worldwide. In 2005, he was put in charge of group finances and granted general authorisation.
Ulrich Kranich was appointed to the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG by the company's Supervisory Board with effect from July 1st 2006. He is responsible for the financial area.
