Page 28 - Next Generation 2015 - Digtial Issue

Next Generation Europe

The 30-year-old twin grandchildren of German shipping legend Egon
are regarded in Hamburg as being pick of the next generation pack

Germany
Nikolaus and Christian Oldendorff

THE 30-year-old twins Nikolaus and Christian, pictured, is involved in
Christian Oldendorff were hailed by ship finance through his own company,
several of the contacts Lloyd’s List spoke Oldendorff Overseas Investments, after
to in Hamburg as perhaps the essential he acquired his first tanker in 2011. OOI
pick among young German shipowners is obviously closely linked to the family
for this supplement. firm and even shares its offices, but is an
independent entity.
The two young men are the
grandchildren of German shipping Yet another product of London’s
legend Egon Oldendorff. They became Cass Business School, Christian’s CV
sole owners of Reederei Nord — already includes spells working in
established by their late father Klaus in container liner services for Maersk,
1964 — in September last year, following shipbuilding project management for
the death of their mother Christiane. Aker ASA and dry bulk operations for
Bocimar International.
Much of their childhood was spent
in Cyprus, where the company has an He made the pages of Germany’s
important base. mass circulation tabloid Bild after
crashing his Maclaren MP4 near
Niko, as Nikolaus is known, is Frankfurt in 2012. Fortunately Christian
thought to be the one leading Nord’s dry walked away unhurt, which was more
and container shipping business on a than could be said for the $260,000
day-to-day basis, with the assistance of sports car.
managing director Kurt Klemme.

The 36-year-old comes from a Belgian family that seems to have a
member in every sector or discipline of the shipping industry

Belgium
Alexander Saverys

YOU may know you are destined to take Last September, the 36-year-old large crude carrier fleet in January 2014,
the helm at the family firm — but you Belgian was appointed chief executive was also part of CMB at one time but
cannot guarantee what the markets will of Compagnie Maritime Belge when his has since been spun off.
be doing when that day comes. father Marc vacated that role. His father
still remains chairman of company, While Alexander has occupied a
“I am enjoying a fantastic dry bulk founded 120 years ago, which is CMB board seat for some time, in recent
market that seem to have coincided active in dry bulk through its Bocimar years he has had focused his attentions
with me taking this role,” says subsidiary. on Delphis, a container operation he
Alexander Saverys playfully, referring founded in 2004 and built up through
to a sector that is battling one of the Leading tanker owner Euronav, several acquisitions, including Team
worst market downturns of recent which has dominated headlines in the Lines and Portek.
years. “Let’s just hope the two events past 18 months with its US listing plans
are not related.” and $1bn acquisition of the Maersk very So how has he found the transition
from containers to dry bulk?

28 | Lloyd’s List Next Generation 2015 | www.lloydslist.com