The new appointments, says Cargotec, “continue the work to develop its way of working as one company, to improve overall efficiency and to increase the focus on customers.

To speed up the development of “solutions and customer focus,” a Customer Focus Board (CFB) has been set up, to be chaired by Pekka Vauramo, Senior EVP and Deputy CEO. The brief of the CFB is to work across internal borders, combining the coverage and knowledge of global sales and service network with its experience in technology, project business, product management and customer support.

Harald de Graaf has been appointed as SVP Corporate Development. He also continues in his role as President, Cargotec Services. In his Corporate Development role he is responsible for driving Cargotec’s strategy development and corporate communications.

Matti Sommarberg has been appointed Chief Technology Officer. In this role he is responsible for the long-term research, the future direction of R&D and exploitation of technology synergies within Cargotec. He has previously acted as SVP, Operations Development within the Executive Board. Matti Sommarberg also continues as Managing Director of Cargotec Finland Oy.

As previously reported, Axel Leijonhufvud has been appointed chairman of Cargotec’s new Supply Board. The Supply Board is responsible for long-term supply strategy including the development of supplier and partner structures.

Other developments within Cargotec, including a decision to start producing Kalmar ship-to-shore container cranes in China, will be reported more fully in the February edition of WorldCargo News. The focus of the Kalmar STS unit in Rotterdam will change from manufacturing to become a crane competence centre.