Michel Azrak appointed general manager for CMA CGM Jamaica Ltd

The French shipping line, CMA CGM, has appointed Michel Azrak as general manager of its Jamaican shipping agency.

Azrak succeeds C. Leopold Nesbeth, who is leaving to take up a new position with the Kingston Freeport Terminal Ltd, which is the concessionaire of the Kingston Container Terminal.

Azrak, who was formally introduced at a cocktail reception held by the company recently, said: "It's a bit early to talk about the details of the plan, but we want to assure Jamaicans that we are here to support the growth of the Jamaican economy, and we want that the New Panamax vessels will be able to port in Kingston in the future."

CMA CGM is one of the major shipping lines serving the port of Kingston, operating at the Kingston Container Terminal.

"We are going to be diversifying the product and services that we offer, not only basic container transportation from point A to B but also added-values services," Azrak added.

He joins the company with more than 12 years' experience at a senior level with CMA CGM. His most recent appointment was at CMA CGM Philippines Inc, where he was the general manager. Prior to that, his assignment with CMA CGM was in Russia. He has been successful in developing the group's presence in the Philippines and comes to Jamaica with a wealth of experience in shipping/logistics and ambitions for the country.

Azrak holds two postgraduate degrees in international business/marketing from Buckinghamshire University and Universite de la Mediterrane'e (Aix-Marseille II) in economics and international business. Although his native language is French, he also speaks English and Russian fluently.

Azrak arrived in Jamaica with his wife and two children and told industry stakeholders at his reception that he is looking forward to working with the shipping and logistics community.