New chairman for UK largest port operator

Jonathan (Jon) Lewis, who has worked predominantly in major infrastructure sectors such as energy, engineering and construction, is expected to replace Nolan in September.

Currently a non-executive director at energy firm Equinor, he chairs the company’s Safety, Sustainability and Ethics Committee.

“As an island nation, ports have been vital to the UK for millennia,” said Lewis. “But their importance and contribution has never been greater as they maintain their historic role as our main gateways for global trade and play an increasingly pivotal new role as enablers of the energy transition.”

“The board and company extends its huge thanks to Phil for successfully steering ABP through seven transformational years as chair, during which he has steered us through the challenges of the Covid pandemic, Brexit and major global supply chain upheavals,” said ABP CEO Henrik L. Pedersen. “Despite these challenges ABP has continued to grow and thrive, with the board under Phil’s leadership supporting a programme of ambitious investment and increased involvement with the green energy sector.”

ABP is the UK’s leading ports group, with 21 ports handling a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade worth £150bn+ to the UK economy and supporting 215,000 jobs across the UK.