• 4 min de lectura
• 4 min de lectura
The Board of Directors of Pacific International Lines (PIL) announced the appointment of Wan Chee Foong as Deputy Chief Executive Officer effective October 5, 2026, as part of a leadership succession plan. Wan will succeed Lars Kastrup as Chief Executive Officer in April 2027.
Meanwhile, Kastrup will remain in his position during the transition period and will subsequently act as an advisor to the Board.
According to the shipping company, this appointment concludes a succession process led by the Board of Directors, which considered both internal and external candidates globally.
During this six-month period, Wan will work alongside Kastrup and the senior management team, progressively assuming responsibility for the Group's commercial, operational, and strategic priorities.
PIL's future executive has almost three decades of leadership experience in the shipping, ports, and logistics sectors, covering operations, investment, and strategy. At PSA International, he held management positions, including Regional CEO for the Middle East and South Asia, and Group Head of Business and Commercial Development. The professional was also CEO of PSA BDP, PSA's global supply chain solutions division. Wan was a member of PSA International's Senior Management Council from 2014 to 2025.
Wan complements this experience with his knowledge of the investment sector, having worked nine years at Temasek (from 2003 to 2012) in the transportation and logistics area, including his participation in the creation of SeaTown Holdings. The future CEO of the shipping company joins PIL from Temasek, where he currently serves as Managing Director of Corporate Strategy, and began his professional career at Singapore Airlines. In addition to his professional career, Wan is an independent director of Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia, and a board member of the National Council of Social Service.
Kastrup joined PIL in July 2020 as a Senior Advisor and subsequently became Co-President and CEO in March 2021, and Managing Director in July 2022, after more than 40 years in the container shipping industry.
Under the leadership of the current executive, PIL managed to increase its Ebitda from USD 558 million in fiscal year 2023 to USD 1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, with a net profit after tax of USD 1.04 billion in fiscal year 2025 on revenues of USD 4.27 billion. According to the company, fiscal year 2026 is well on track to surpass fiscal year 2025, which will consolidate a strong balance sheet to sustain growth and resilience.
Lars Kastrup stated that "when I took on this role, I was entrusted with a company founded by the Teo family in 1967, continued by generations of colleagues and supported today by shareholders committed to its future. My goal was to strengthen resilience, discipline, and the ability to face industry cycles."
"Thanks to a supportive Board of Directors, our colleagues on land and at sea, and our partners, PIL today has a renewed fleet, a largely owned agency network, a strong balance sheet, and customer trust. With this foundation, this is the ideal time for the handover. Chee Foong brings the experience and judgment needed to guide PIL into its next stage, and the vessels we ordered will arrive under his direction. I have full confidence in the future," said Kastrup.
Wan Chee Foong affirmed that "I am honored by the trust placed by the Board and excited to leverage the strong platform that Lars and the PIL team have established. My immediate priority is to ensure a smooth transition, working with colleagues, clients, and partners to consolidate PIL's network, strengthen customer trust, and build its next chapter as Singapore's leading global shipping company."
Andrew M Lim, Chairman of the Nominating and Remuneration Committee and Independent Director, noted that "Lars has guided PIL through a crucial period with firmness, clarity, and determination. The company is now stronger in its financial situation, its fleet, its network, and, above all, in the quality of its management team and its culture. This strength makes this the ideal time to implement a carefully planned succession."
"In Chee Foong, the Board has chosen a leader with extensive experience in ports, logistics, investment, and strategy, and a deep understanding of the maritime sector. With Lars continuing as CEO during the handover and agreeing to remain as an advisor thereafter, our goal is to ensure continuity for PIL's staff, customers, and partners, while positioning the company for its next phase of growth," added Lim.