May 5 - Kristian Morch, partner and co-chief executive officer of Clipper Group, has confirmed that he will leave the shipping line to become ceo of Norwegian shipping and tank terminal company, Odfjell SE.
Gary Vogel will take on the responsibility of sole ceo of Clipper Group.
Clipper Projects and Thorco Shipping merged in July 2013 to create one of the world's largest multipurpose/project shipping lines. HLPFI reported in February 2015 that Morch had decided to step down from the Thorco Shipping board due to differing views about the company's strategic direction.
Thorco's chief financial officer and joint ceo, Kent Hedegaard, also stepped away from the Danish shipping company during February 2015.
"Kristian Morch has been with Clipper for more than four years, and he has had a very strong partnership with Gary Vogel as joint ceos. However, with bulk being the core segment and focus of Clipper going forward, and Clipper Bulk being led by Gary, Kristian has found the timing right to pursue new challenges outside the Group," said Frank G. Jensen, partner and chairman of the board of Clipper Group.
Morch will stay on at Clipper for a transition period before commencing his work at Odfjell, though he is no longer a partner of Clipper Group.
