Peel Ports Group has appointed international shipping executive Audrey Dolhen as its new chief operating officer, Unitised, strengthening its leadership team as it targets further growth across its Irish Sea operations. Dolhen joins the UK's second-largest port operator from ZIM Shipping, where she was managing director of the UK business.

Peel Ports Group is headquartered in Liverpool, England, and operates as the UK's second-largest port group, handling more than 70 million tonnes of cargo annually across ports including Liverpool, Dublin and Heysham. The group reported revenue of £694 million and EBITDA of £373 million for the year to March 2024.

Dolhen brings more than 20 years of experience in container shipping and logistics, PortStrategy reports, including senior roles with CMA CGM across Europe and Asia before joining ZIM Shipping. She will join the Peel Ports Group executive board.

In her new role, Dolhen will bring together the group's Irish Sea Containers and RoRo operations across Liverpool, Dublin and Heysham. Collectively, the businesses handle more than 1.4 million units of cargo each year for major shipping lines and freight operators.

The structural driver is Peel Ports' consolidation of its Irish Sea container and RoRo businesses under a single operations lead, aimed at growing volumes and strengthening customer relationships across one of its key trade corridors.

Dolhen said, "I'm incredibly excited to be joining Peel Ports Group at a time when there is such a clear opportunity to build on the strong foundations already in place across our unitised markets. I see significant potential to grow volumes, strengthen customer relationships and attract new services."

Before joining ZIM Shipping, Dolhen spent two decades with CMA CGM, holding senior commercial and leadership positions including managing director for India, chief commercial officer for China and managing director for the UK, as well as a spell at the company's global headquarters in Marseille.

Peel Ports chief executive Claudio Veritiero said Dolhen's international shipping expertise would strengthen the executive board, adding that her track record of leading complex businesses would be valuable as the group accelerates growth across its unitised operations.

David Huck, chief operating officer for Ports and Marine, will continue leading strategic prioritisation across the group's other port activities, which collectively handle 40 million tonnes of cargo annually.

For the sector, the appointment underscores the growing commercial importance of Irish Sea unitised trade as ports compete for freight volumes amid shifting shipping line networks.

Source: PortStrategy / Peel Ports Group