[By: Knud E. Hansen]

Changes in Senior Management at Knud E. Hansen

On 1st March 2025, Denmark-based maritime consultancy Knud E. Hansen announced changes to its senior management structure. The move sees Javier Suárez succeeding Finn Wollesen Petersen as the company’s Managing Director.

The transition in the management structure is part of a planned process that has been unfolding over the past few months. Javier and Finn have worked closely together to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

Finn, who has been serving as the Managing Director at Knud E. Hansen since 2003, will continue his journey with the company by focusing on coordinating operations in the United States. Javier, a Spanish national, joined Knud E. Hansen in 2017 as Director of Operations. His extensive maritime career began in 1995 after graduating with an MSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Prior to joining Knud E. Hansen, Javier held various roles at the Astilleros de Huelva Shipyard and Voith Schneider.

Finn’s maritime career started aboard reefer and polar vessels before pursuing a mechanical engineering education at Århus Teknikum. His international experience in shipbuilding projects led him to Knud E. Hansen as Managing Director in 2003.

Over the years, Knud E. Hansen has garnered awards and global recognition for its vessel designs and conversions across different sectors of the maritime industry.

The collaboration between Finn and Javier dates back to their early projects at Knud E. Hansen, where Finn’s design work for small RoRo vessels coincided with Javier’s role as Commercial Director at Astilleros de Huelva.

Quotes from Finn and Javier

Finn expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead Knud E. Hansen and expressed confidence in Javier’s capabilities to drive the company forward. He looks forward to supporting Javier in his new role while focusing on revitalizing the company’s operations in the United States.

Javier acknowledged Finn’s significant contributions to Knud E. Hansen’s growth and reputation over the past 22 years. He emphasized his commitment to continuing the company’s international expansion and maintaining a strong client focus across various maritime sectors.

Knud E. Hansen’s future under Javier’s leadership promises to uphold its reputation for excellence in serving clients globally, particularly in the passenger and offshore wind segments where the company has achieved notable successes.