Zeaborn co-founder Ove Meyer has stepped down as managing director from all operating Zeaborn and Zeamarine subsidiaries with immediate effect. He will retain his role as managing partner Zeaborn Holding.

“It has been more than six exciting and intense years, during which we built up Zeabron through takeovers, mergers and post-merger integrations into a globally active shipping company in commercial and technical management. In particular, the integration of Zeamarine, which I accompanied as Owner’s Representative, has moved forward at a significant pace. Over the next few months, I will be taking a break to look after some other important matters that have been short-changed over the past couple of years. Thereafter, I will pursue some new challenges,” said Ove Meyer, explaining his resignation.

He added: “With Dominik Stehle, Nicki Schumacher and Frank Fischer at Zeamarine, as well as Rob Grool, Michael Brandhoff and Erik Kruse at Zeaborn Ship Management, we have been able to attract and retain some outstanding managers, who have now taken the executive helm. This is now a good time to withdraw from the operational business.”

Backed by the Gerrman entrepreneur Kurt Zech, Ove Meyer and Jan-Hendrik Többe founded Zeaborn in April 2013 with the aim to build a new global shipping company by purchasing cheap second-hand. After five years of difficult market circumstances following the economic crisis of 2008, many ship owners were left in financial distress and good ships could be picked up for bottom prices.

The company was able to grow at a fast pace through the acquisition of several major companies, including Rickmers-Line, Rickmers Ship Management, E.R. Schiffahrt, HC Chartering, Intermarine and CPO Tankers. Today, Zeamarine ranks fourth on the list of largest multipurpose vessel operators, according to Dynamar. Zeamarine was initially set up as a joint venture of Zeaborn and Intermarine, but Zeaborn recently took full control of the company.

Co-shareholders Kurt Zech and Jan-Hendrik Többe said:  “We would like to most sincerely thank Ove Meyer for his outstanding service in building up and expanding the Zeaborn Group and would like to wish him all the best for the future.” Zech added that he hopes that Meyer will take over other tasks in the Zeabron Group after his break.