Ocean Network Express Names Ole Barrelet CEO

Singapore-based container shipping line Ocean Network Express has announced a leadership change that will take effect mid-2026. The company said Till Ole Barrelet will join as chief executive officer-designate on May 1, 2026, and assume the CEO role on July 1, 2026. He will succeed Jeremy Nixon, who will transition to a senior adviser position.

Barrelet currently serves as CEO of Emirates Shipping Line and has more than two decades of experience in container shipping and maritime finance.

His background includes ship ownership, vessel financing and oversight of trade lanes across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The company said his operational and commercial experience will support its next phase of development.

• Ocean Network Express names Ole Barrelet CEO, Nixon to become senior adviser
• Till Ole Barrelet to lead ONE from July 1 amid global shipping shifts
• ONE reshapes leadership as Jeremy Nixon steps into advisory role

Nixon has led ONE since its launch in 2018, overseeing the integration of the container shipping businesses of Japan’s K Line, Mitsui OSK Lines, and NYK Line. The merger created one of the world’s largest liner operators. Today, the carrier operates more than 260 vessels with a total capacity exceeding 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

During Nixon’s tenure, the company expanded its global service network and strengthened its position on major East-West trade routes and intra-Asia routes. It also navigated supply chain disruptions, port congestion and freight rate volatility during and after the pandemic period.

Board chairman Jotaro Tamura credited Nixon with establishing the company’s operating structure and corporate culture. He said the board is confident that Barrelet will continue to strengthen commercial performance and operational reliability.

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The company also outlined plans to refine its management structure, with divisional and regional heads reporting directly to the CEO, as part of efforts to streamline decision-making and improve global coordination within the global shipping industry.