HHLA Supervisory Board Undergoes Major Leadership Changes with New Chairman and Members
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) announces significant leadership changes to its Supervisory Board, with Marcus Vitt appointed as Chairman and new city representatives joining, marking a strategic shift in governance for one of Europe's leading logistics companies.
Marcus Vitt will assume the role of Chairman of HHLA's Supervisory Board effective October 1, 2025, succeeding Prof. Dr. Rudiger Grube who will depart the board on September 30, 2025. The leadership transition comes alongside the appointment of Senator Dr. Andreas Dressel and Katharina Kriston to supervisory roles, representing a comprehensive restructuring of the company's governance framework.
The changes reflect the strategic importance of HHLA's supervisory structure in guiding the logistics giant through evolving global market conditions. Senator Dr. Melanie Leonhard, speaking on behalf of majority shareholder Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft (PoH), acknowledged Prof. Dr. Grube's eight-year tenure, noting his guidance through "eventful times both globally and within HHLA" and his leadership through "many important processes."
In addition to Prof. Dr. Grube's departure, current city representatives Andreas Rieckhof, State Secretary of the Economic Authority, and Dr. Sibylle Roggencamp, Head of the Office for Investment Management in the Authority for Finance and Districts, will also step down from their supervisory positions. The coordinated departures signal a deliberate refresh of the board's composition and expertise.
The new appointments were made in agreement with the Nomination Committee of the HHLA Supervisory Board. Marcus Vitt, who currently serves as Chairman of the Hamburg Stock Exchange Council, brings financial expertise to his new role as Supervisory Board Chairman. He will be joined by Senator Dr. Andreas Dressel, Head of the Authority for Finance and Districts, and Katharina Kriston, Head of the Central Office of the Authority for the Economy, Employment and Innovation.
The governance structure of HHLA's Supervisory Board consists of twelve members with equal representation between employee and shareholder representatives. The six employee representatives are determined according to German Co-Determination Act regulations, while the City of Hamburg and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company each propose three supervisory board members, with the City retaining the right to propose the Board Chair. The company maintains its digital presence at https://www.hhla.de/en where stakeholders can access additional corporate information.
These leadership changes occur as HHLA continues to operate as one of Europe's leading logistics companies, maintaining a network of seaport terminals in Hamburg, Odessa, Tallinn, and Trieste with extensive hinterland connections and intermodal hubs across Central and Eastern Europe. The board restructuring represents a strategic alignment of governance expertise with the company's positioning as a logistics and digital hub for future transport flows, operating under a business model committed to innovative technologies and sustainability principles.