Heysham Port owners appoint new COO

An experienced international shipping executive has been appointed to a leading role by the owners of Heysham Port.

Audrey Dolhen joins the UK’s second largest port operator as Chief Operating Officer, Unitised.

She previously worked at ZIM Shipping, where she served as Managing Director for the UK business.

Audrey brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the container shipping and logistics sector.

In her new role, she will join the Peel Ports Group Executive Board and will bring together the Irish Sea Containers and RoRo operations across Heysham, Liverpool and Dublin.

Peel Ports Group said that together, these businesses handle more than 1.4m units of cargo annually for major shipping lines and freight operators and form a key part of its long-term growth strategy.

Before joining ZIM Shipping, Audrey spent two decades with CMA CGM, holding senior commercial and leadership positions around the world, including Managing Director for India, Chief Commercial Officer for China and Managing Director for the UK.

Having lived and worked across Europe and Asia, including at CMA CGM’s global headquarters in Marseille, Audrey has extensive experience of international trade and the changing demands of global shipping markets.

Audrey Dolhen

“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," she said.

“Having spent my career working with shipping lines and customers around the world, I understand what drives their decisions and what they need from their port partners.

“Across our Irish Sea container and RoRo businesses, I see significant potential to grow volumes, strengthen customer relationships and attract new services by combining operational excellence with a truly customer-focused approach.”

Her role will bring together the Group’s Irish Sea container and RoRo operations while David Huck, Chief Operating Officer, Ports and Marine, will continue to lead the strategic prioritisation and growth of all other activities across the Group’s Statutory Harbour Authorities and port operations, which collectively handle 40 million tonnes of cargo each year.

“Audrey brings extensive international shipping experience and a valuable customer perspective to our Executive Board," said Claudio Veritiero, Chief Executive Officer at Peel Ports Group.

“Her understanding of global shipping markets, combined with her track record of leading complex businesses and high-performing teams, will be hugely valuable as we look to accelerate growth across our unitised operations.

“This appointment strengthens our leadership team and reflects our ambition to build on the significant opportunities across our Irish Sea container and RoRo businesses, while continuing to deliver the levels of service and operational excellence our customers expect.”

Peel Ports Group owns and operates six of the UK’s most important ports (Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and Great Yarmouth).

It also operates a container terminal in Dublin and owns BG Freight Line, which provides short sea container services between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and Peel Ports Logistics, one of the UK’s leading shipping and freight forwarders.  

Peel Ports handles approximately 70m tonnes of cargo every year and 14 per cent of the total UK major ports traffic flows through ports operated by the Group. Headquartered in Liverpool, it employs around 2,000 staff.