Svane returns to Maersk Drilling as HR department head

Danish drilling contractor Maersk Drilling has named its former employee and current Scandinavian Tobacco Group HR Head to lead the company’s human resources department.

The driller said on Friday that Nikolaj Svane would be the new HR department head effective February 1, 2017.

He has previously held several different leadership roles across the Maersk Group, most recently as Head of Talent and Organisational effectiveness with Maersk Oil.

The company said that this would not be Svane’s first encounter with Maersk Drilling either. From 2006 to 2011, he worked in Maersk Drilling, most recently as the Director of Global Operations and Business Partnering in the HR department.

Jørn Madsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling, said: “I am very excited to welcome Nikolaj back to Maersk Drilling as our new Head of HR. Nikolaj brings with him vast experience from different leadership roles across the HR spectrum, both from Maersk and other international companies. He has great knowledge of the industry and Maersk Drilling, and I am confident that he will be able to strengthen the HR organization in Maersk Drilling.”

Lene Reitzel, currently the Head of HR in Maersk Drilling, will be leaving Maersk to join Danfoss as Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer. She has been with the Maersk Group for 27 years, more than 12 with Maersk Drilling. Her last day with Maersk Drilling will be January 31.

“Throughout her career with Maersk, Lene has managed to deliver impressive HR results and has shown unique skills in realizing business objectives in a very impactful manner,” added Madsen.