Yilport names Blauert as new CEO

Christian Blauert has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Yilport Holding, effective June 1, 2016.

   Christian Blauert has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Yilport Holding, effective June 1, 2016. Yilport, a subsidiary of the Istanbul-based Yildirim Group conglomerate, is reportedly negotiating to buy a majority stake in Ports America, the largest port operator in the United States.
   Blauert is currently Yilport’s chief operating officer and a former executive at both CMA CGM’s Terminal Link, along with HHLA, which operates three container terminals in the Port of Hamburg.
   “Having a background of more than 20 years in the port industry, Christian Blauert’s experience includes practical knowledge and leadership within the areas of automated and conventional terminal design and realization, operational efficiency and improvements as well as management of bigger business portfolios,” the company said.
   Blauert replaces Sean Pierce, who resigned May 4.
   “The company’s strategy and overall leadership has always been and remains with me,” Yilport Holding Chairman Robert Yuksel Yildirim said. “Both Yilport and Yildirim Group of Companies have a deep and seasoned management team. We designated a strategy of solid growth and expansion at Yilport until 2025.”
   “Yilport’s strategy has been established by me, and our port investments strategy committee,” he added. “Therefore, my dream remains strong, and our journey to be one of the top 10 international terminal operators continue. I strongly believe that our new CEO, Christian Blauert will be the person to support and assist us in achieving our goals.”
   Yildirim said he has personally known Blauert since 2011, when he was the vice president of terminals at CMA CGM and that he “cooperated with Yilport since then and joined in projects and tenders. Mr. Blauert joined with us in December 2015 as a consultant to set Yilport’s global logistics center up. In May 2016, he was promoted as our new COO to work together with former CEO Sean Pierce.”
   He added that Yilport has started to look for a new chief operating officer, senior terminal execution director, and chief information officer.