Page 51: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2018)

OBITUARY

Jacques R. Saadé Founding President, CMA CGM Group

In 1978 he began with four employees, a single ship and maritime service between Marseilles and Beirut ...

and by 2005 it was the world’s third largest shippping company

The maritime industry lost one of from the American University in Leba- its luminaries last month when CMA non, as well as Lebanon’s National Or-

CGM Group announced the death of der of the Cedar. In 2014 Jacques R.

Jacques R. Saade, Founding President Saadé received an award from the Asso- of the CMA CGM Group, on June 24, ciation of the Mediterranean Chambers 2018 at the age of 81. of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) for encouraging the economic develop-

Life in Maritime ment and conveying a positive image

Jacques R. Saadé dedicated his life of the Mediterranean Basin, as well as to CMA CGM, making the group into promoting peace and tolerance world- a world leader in the maritime trans- wide. port of containers, developing the In 2015, he is conferred the title of company in more than 160 countries, Commander of the French Legion of while maintaining the family dimen- Honor by the President of France. The sion with its values. After having left following year he was named Com-

Lebanon to protect his family for Civil mander of the Ordre National du Mérite

War, Jacques R Saadé founded the Maritime. On 7 February 2017, on his

Compagnie Maritime d’Affretement 80th birthday, Jacques R. Saadé, ap- (CMA) on September 13, 1978, an- pointed Rodolphe Saadé to the position ticipating major developments in world of CEO of the CMA CGM Group and trade and convinced that the container then appointed him Chairman of the would have a determining role in world Board of Directors on the 24th of No- maritime transport. He began with four vember, the same year. employees, a single ship and only one

Copyright REA maritime service between Marseilles Entrepreneur and Beirut. Then began the company’s After graduating from the London shipping industry: Australian National Today, the CMA CGM Group, of extraordinary development. In 1983, School of Economics in 1957, Jacques Line (ANL) in 1998; DELMAS in which Jacques Saadé is the Chairman of he sent his ? rst ships beyond the Medi- Saadé took over the family business the 2005; Cheng Lie Navigation Co., Ltd. the board, is a leading worldwide ship- terranean and had them cross the Suez following year. In 1978, he moved to (CNC); U.S. LINES in 2007; T MacAn- ping group.

Canal. In 1986 he launched a service France, where he set up the Compagnie drews; and COMANAV. CMA CGM serves more than 420

Thus, in 2005, the CMA CGM Group ports with a ? eet of 494 vessels. In linking North Europe to Asia. In 1992 Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA). An- he opened CMA’s ? rst of? ce in Shang- ticipating major developments in world became the world’s third-largest ship- 2016, it carried more than 18.95 million hai, persuaded that China would be- trade, and convinced that the container ping company. TEUs. Present in 160 countries on ? ve

His long-term vision of the industry continents via a global network of 755 come the world’s factory. He combined would have a determining role in these vigorous internal growth with strategic changes, he opened CMA’s ? rst of? ce is also re? ected in the construction of agencies, the Group employs more than acquisitions allowing him to strengthen in China, in Shanghai in 1992. China an ef? cient ? eet of vessels, equipped 30,000 people worldwide, including the company’s presence on key mar- quickly became the most important with the most innovative technology. 4,500 in France. kets: CGM in 1986, ANL in 1998 and market for CMA, which became the To build the CMA CGM vessel ? eet, With his strong attachment to Mar-

Jacques Saadé decided early on to in- seilles, the company’s birthplace,

Delmas in 2005. In 2006, the company number one container shipping com- vest in large containerships while being Jacques Saadé decided to build the became the third largest container ship- pany in France.

ping company in the world. With strong From 1996 to 2008, Jacques Saadé particularly attentive to environmental CMA CGM Tower in 2006, which issues and climate change. In this re- would be the new Head Of? ce. The ar- ties to the city of Marseilles, where the pursued the Group’s expansion via ex-

Group was founded, Jacques R. Saadé ternal growth. In particular he acquired gard, in 2005, the Group set itself the chitect Zaha Hadid, winner of the 2004 built the CMA CGM Tower in 2006, the Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM) goal of reducing CO2 emissions per Pritzker Architecture Prize, was entrust- new headquarters of the Group and now when it was privatized in 1996, then container by 50% by the year 2015. ed with the design of the new building.

In June 2013, and for the ? rst time Nerve center of the company, overlook- a symbol of the city of Marseilles. merged CMA and CGM, whichled to

Jacques R. Saadé was a recognized the birth of the CMA CGM Group in since 1962, it was the President of the ing the port of Marseilles, the 33-story industry leader with a worldwide repu- 1999. This acquisition, a turning point French Republic, François Hollande, CMA CGM Tower is the Group’s com- tation. In 2013 he received one of the in the Group’s history, was the ? rst step welcomed by Jacques Saadé, who in- mand and control center and workplace highest decorations of the City of Ham- in a series of targeted acquisitions that augurated the CMA CGM JULES for 2,400 employees since 2011.

burg, the Admiralitäts-Portugaleser. He would contribute to positioning CMA VERNE, ? agship of the CMA CGM also received an Honorary Doctorate CGM Group as a world leader in the ? eet at the time. Obituary courtesy CMA CGM www.marinelink.com 51

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