Container liner giant Ocean Network Express (ONE) has confirmed a planned leadership transition, with Till Ole Barrelet joining as chief executive officer-designate (CEO-designate) on May 1, 2026, and succeeding Jeremy Nixon as CEO on July 1, 2026. Jeremy Nixon will transition to the role of senior advisor.
Since ONE’s inception in April 2018, Jeremy and his management team have led the transformation of Japanese carriers, K Line, MOL, and NYK, into a unified global container shipping company.
ONE now operates a fleet of over 260 vessels with more than 2 million TEU capacity.
Till brings over 20 years of maritime and logistics experience to the role, most recently serving as CEO of Emirates Shipping Line (ESL), with expertise in ship owning, financing, container shipping, trade development across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
ONE also announced a new Executive Management Team structure comprising the CEO and seven representatives from across all divisions.
The new Executive Management Team, together with a further six regional leaders, will report into the CEO.
Jotaro Tamura, representative director and chairman of the board of directors, Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., said: “As our founding CEO, Jeremy has helped build ONE from the ground up, establishing our corporate culture and market position.
“We are deeply grateful for his strong leadership and vision in creating a resilient, financially strong company. After a comprehensive search, Till emerged as the clear choice to lead ONE’s next chapter. His proven track record, deep industry understanding, and strategic vision align perfectly with ONE’s growth ambitions, commitment to operational excellence and customer service.”
Jeremy Nixon added: “Leading ONE from Day One has been the defining chapter of my career. Together with an exceptional team, we have built something truly special. Now is the right time for new leadership, and I am very confident in Till’s ability to lead ONE forward.”
Commenting on his appointment, Till noted: “I am honored to lead Ocean Network Express at this pivotal time. ONE is well-positioned to navigate industry headwinds with an increasingly modern fleet, financial strength, and proven capabilities. I am committed to ONE’s service excellence and growth ambitions while driving our strategic priorities of ONE2030 forward.”
