The HGK Group is strengthening its team with an internationally experienced manager: Richard Schroeter, operating as the new Director Corporate Affairs, will not only be responsible for the strategic direction of the international ocean freight activities, but also the company’s public image from 8 June 2026 onwards. The goal is also to actively help shape the underlying political and regulatory conditions as well as effectively support the HGK Group’s market position in key future subject areas. The experienced manager will directly report to Steffen Bauer, the Group CEO, in this newly created role.

Steffen Bauer, the CEO of the HGK Group, comments on the new member of his team as follows. “Richard Schroeter has enormous expertise in ocean freight on a global scale and well-developed public affairs skills. Thanks to his role as Director Corporate Affairs, we’re strengthening our ability to act in the political sphere. We’re also specifically expanding our international maritime freight activities and strategic partnerships.”

Logistics skills par excellence

Richard Schroeter has acquired logistics expertise both in Germany and abroad in his professional career during about four decades. This has primarily involved gaining extraordinary proficiency in ocean shipping in a wide variety of management positions. His time spent in Hong Kong for Hapag-Lloyd and in Singapore for DSV Air & Ocean, among other places, therefore form the basis for further developing the ocean freight business and international business relations at a strategic level.

“I’m very much looking forward to providing strategic support to the HGK Group in my new role as Director Corporate Affairs and further strengthening its market position. Thanks to its integrated approach to logistics, the Group’s position embraces the point where business, infrastructure, the energy revolution and transport policy meet. I wish to purposefully make use of my international experience in the world of logistics, particularly in the maritime field, as well as my networks in politics and industry in order to enable the HGK Group to further make its mark in the eyes of relevant stakeholders and press ahead with future issues such as sustainable logistics, digitalisation and international supply chains,” says Richard Schroeter, commenting on the goals of his new work.

A wide range of tasks

His core tasks will include developing and implementing the corporate group’s public affairs strategy as well as maintaining and expanding relations with political decision-makers, public authorities, associations and other relevant stakeholders. He will be responsible for the Group’s issue, crisis and reputation management, keep his eye on political and regulatory developments and represent the company’s interests in political and social consultation processes.

As the representative of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Richard Schroeter ensured that the voice of the Antwerp-Bruges port association was heard in federal politics and at a state level during the last three years. When it came to future topics such as the energy revolution, hydrogen-based industry and even the capture, utilisation and storage of CO₂ (CCUS), the experienced logistics manager served as the contact partner for decision-makers both from the worlds of business and politics/public authorities. “His extensive network will help us improve the HGK Group’s market position, particularly in fields that are relevant to the future. We now have an even stronger team to pursue our growth course in the international logistics and ocean freight business with him on board,” says Steffen Bauer, conclusively outlining his plans for Richard Schroeter’s activities.