Executives in the maritime and logistics sectors must deal with the often-severe impact of complex global issues. Anne-Christine Ahrenkiel, who is in the executive management team of major ferry and logistics group DFDS, is among those who have found participating in the new Blue Board Leadership Programme to be valuable in enhancing their approach to determining the right pathways through ever-changing scenarios.
Ms Ahrenkiel already can claim much success in her chosen field – since 2019 she has been executive vice-president and chief people officer of the Copenhagen-listed group, which was voted the world’s leading ferry operator for 2022 at the World Travel Awards, the 12th year in succession it was presented with such an accolade.
The Blue Board Leadership Programme initiated its sessions in late 2022 and early 2023, drawing on expertise from CBS Executive Foundations, which designs and runs senior executive and board governance educational programmes, and the Blue MBA Alumni Association, whose members have graduated at various times over the past two decades from Copenhagen Business School’s Executive MBA in Shipping & Logistics (the Blue MBA).
“I was keen to take a Board education and get some academic inspiration – and when I saw the curriculum of the Blue Board programme, the ‘Blue twist’ appealed even more, especially with its focus on geopolitics and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles,” says Ms Ahrenkiel.
How does a company cope with such matters as rapidly evolving legislation and regulation, and with the exacting question of setting policy over present and future green fuels?
Ms Ahrenkiel explains: “As a European transportation service provider, we have a lot to deal with to react to geopolitical trends such as Brexit and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Topping that is the whole ESG agenda which is driven by expectations of employees, financial investors, and EU legislation. Lots to deal with – so every day demands a careful assessment of what is most critical and by when, while asking oneself how it will impact the company over the next five to 10 years.”
Ms Ahrenkiel stresses the importance of the ESG element, and says that a good place for a company to begin proving it is not just paying lip-service to a slogan – what is known as greenwashing – “is to be open about the starting point of the company, and be explicit about how the company gradually is dealing with it, for instance through a five or 10-year action plan which describes a long term vision but also sets out intermediate steps.”
While adherence to ESG principles is a must, “it is important to allow oneself to make assumptions about how to interpret relevant new legislation. If not – and if trying to deal with all legislation in great detail at once – it will overtake any other activity of a company. Hence, one needs to a certain degree to take an assumptions-based and risk management-based approach.”
Reflecting on her participation in the eight-day session (in two modules) in the Danish capital of the Blue Board Leadership Programme, Ms Ahrenkiel remarked on the high quality of the CBS professors, and of the external faculty members “who were very good at elucidating the academic approach into real-life examples.” She added that “the ‘Blue twist’ I have been describing here is relevant also outside the shipping industry and might even make this programme somewhat of an early front runner compared to other similar programmes.”
DFDS, which has 12,000 employees and earned DKK 17bn revenue (US$2.5bn) in its latest reporting year, connects more than 20 countries with its ferry routes and logistics services, mostly carrying freight and with up to 5m passengers annually. It serves mainland European ports and the UK, and routes in Scandinavia and across the Baltic Sea in addition to Türkiye.
Before returning to the shipping industry, where she earlier had senior roles at Maersk, Ms Ahrenkiel had wide business experience in media and entertainment, management consulting, IT, pharmaceuticals, retail, postal services and government.
*first appeared in Ship Management International
