AP Moller-Maersk has appointed Jesper Praestensgaard as the new chief executive for Maersk in Southeast Asia.

Mr Praestensgaard will be accountable for the conduct of Maersk container business in Southeast Asia, namely Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia.

Brands under the Maersk container business include Maersk Line, Maersk Logistics and feeder operator MCC Transport specialising in Intra-Asia routes.

"While I look forward to be heading Southeast Asia which is also one of our largest business areas, I am equally excited about driving customer service to new heights," Mr Praestensgaard said.

Mr Praestensgaard was previously group vice president and head of sales planning at the Maersk headquarters in Copenhagen. He spent six years in Singapore before that, three years as managing director for Maersk Logistics Asia from 1997 to 2000, and three years as senior vice president and head of Asia Line Management from 2000 to 2003. Before his Singapore posting, he had also spent several years working for Maersk in Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong and China.

Mr Praestensgaard will succeed Morten Engelstoft, who has been promoted to head of line operations in Copenhagen, Denmark, reporting to Eivind Kolding, the chief executive for Maersk container business, a company statement said.