By
Rebecca Gibson |
John Steen-Mikkelsen, CEO of Danish ferry operator Danske Faerger, has been appointed as the new chairman of Interferry, the trade association that representing the worldwide ferry industry.
Steen-Mikkelsen, who has been an Interferry board member for the past 10 years, was elected during the association’s annual conference in Cancun, Mexico this October. He replaces managing director of Liferaft Systems Australia and chairman of TT Line Spirit of Tasmania Mike Grainger, who was a board member for 12 years and chairman for the past six. Grainger helped Interferry to expand its geographical membership and led efforts to improve ferry safety in developing nations.
Three other new board members were elected at the same time as Steen-Mikkelsen. They include Bernard Dwyer, CEO of Australian operator Spirit of Tasmania and board member of the Tourism Council of Tasmania; David Sopta, CEO of Croatian ferry operator Jadrolinija; and Anders Ørgård, owner of Danish firm OSK-ShipTech.
Dwyer replaces Grainger to represent Australasia, while Sopta takes the place of former Jadrolinija CEO Alan Klanac to provide a perspective from Eastern Europe, and Ørgård will represent the supplier community in the place of Hakan Enlund, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at Rauma Marine Construction.
“All members will wish to join me when I thank and acknowledge our outgoing chairman Mike Grainger and board members Alan Klanac and Hakan Enlund,” said Mike Corrigan, Interferry CEO. “Their commitment has made an outstanding contribution to Interferry’s mission as the networking and lobbying voice of the industry.”
The Interferry board comprises executives from both small and large ferry companies, including those who operate ro-pax, cruise, fast, passenger-only and ro-ro ferries. Board members are only permitted to serve a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms.