Thomas Bek, who has been with Blue Water for 29 years, is taking over as CEO from Søren Nørgaard Thomsen, who is leaving the transport and logistics group after seven years.
There has been significant development at the Danish transport and logistics group since 2018, when Søren Nørgaard Thomsen took over as CEO. Turnover has nearly doubled, earnings have increased, and the number of employees and offices has increased to 2,700 and nearly 80, respectively. This year, the group embarked on a new strategy and reorganisation, which in the coming years will take the Esbjerg-based company further forward and upwards in the global transport and logistics market.
The Board of Directors has decided to leave the next stage to a new CEO, who has been found internally.
“As CEO, Søren has made a great effort to strengthen Blue Water, and we therefore have a lot to thank him for over the past seven years. Through his committed and professional attitude, he has contributed to the development and positioning of Blue Water. Still, we in the Board of Directors have assessed that there is a need for a different profile to execute on the new strategy”, says Chairman of the Board, Jørgen Wisborg.
Extensive knowledge of Blue Water
He and the rest of the board are delighted that the right candidate has been found internally: Thomas Bek, who has spent the last three years in senior management as COO of the Energy, Ports & Project Division, takes up his new position as CEO today. Thomas Bek began his career at Blue Water as a freight forwarding trainee 29 years ago and has worked his way up in the company's management team.
"Thomas Bek has a deep understanding of and knowledge about the entire Blue Water business: commercially, operationally and financially – and he is one of the strongest ambassadors for Blue Water's unique values and culture. We believe that now is the right time to put Thomas Bek at the helm of Blue Water as we set out to achieve the goals of our ambitious 2030 strategy," adds Jørgen Wisborg.
Strategically, the focus is on three areas: employees, customers and the bottom line. On the employee side, Blue Water wants to maintain and strengthen its position as an attractive workplace with high employee satisfaction and good opportunities for development and career advancement. A strong customer focus has always been the trademark of the company, and in the coming years, both existing and new customers can continue to expect high service and customised solutions that create value. Finally, the profitability rate will be continuously improved through optimisation, solid business acumen and increased market share.
Anne Skov, Chairman of Blue Water Foundation, Thomas Bek, CEO Blue Water, Jørgen Wisborg, Chairman of Blue Water.
Proud and humble
"Since the start of Blue Water more than 50 years ago, team spirit, cooperation, and the will to solve both small, simple and large, complex transport tasks for our customers have been in our DNA. This has made us a significant partner for our customers, and this will continue to be the same in the future. We look forward to working with Thomas Bek and the rest of the senior management team to achieve our future goals," says Jørgen Wisborg.
The newly appointed CEO is looking forward to the task ahead:
"I am very pleased and honoured by the trust shown by the Board of Directors – and the owners – with this appointment. I approach the task with pride and humility, and I will do my best to lead this unique company in its continued positive development, in close cooperation with the rest of the management and all the colleagues around in Blue Water.”
Maintaining and developing the culture
“Throughout my employment, I have experienced firsthand how important the fundamental values and culture are for everyone in Blue Water. I therefore see it as one of my most important tasks to maintain and develop the values and culture in cooperation with the board, the Skov family and all the Blue Water colleagues,” says Thomas Bek, who will be able to give a brief status update in mid-2025:
"Blue Water is on a solid foundation. We have made a reasonable start to 2025 in terms of implementing our new strategy and organisation, and our day-to-day operations are running according to plan. Of course, we are in turbulent times, where markets and the supply chain are affected by unpredictable political and economic conditions – so, as always, we are ready to act and react in both the short and long term," adds Bek.
"I respect the board's decision to make a change to the CEO position, which is a position you only have on loan. It has been a pleasure to be a part of Blue Water, and I would like to thank the leaders, employees and the Board of Directors for their cooperation. Together, we have moved Blue Water in the right direction over the past seven years, and Blue Water is stronger today,” states Søren Nørgaard Thomsen, who will be available to Thomas Bek for a handover period.
Thomas Bek, 48 years
- 1996: Freight Forwarding Trainee, Blue Water Esbjerg
- 2000: Operational Manager
- 2003: General Manager, Blue Water Houston
- 2006: Global Manager Oil & Gas Division
- 2016: Global Director Oil, Gas & Industrial Projects
- 2019: Global Director Energy & Projects
- 2022: COO Energy, Ports & Projects
- 2025: CEO