CMA CGM has announced a leadership change for its North American operations. Natasha Griffin has been appointed CEO of CMA CGM North America, with responsibility for operations and strategic development in the United States and Canada across ocean shipping, logistics, intermodal transportation, and supply chain services.

The appointment comes as CMA CGM continues to expand its presence in North America. For the shipping and logistics markets, the focus is not only on the new CEO’s experience but also on how the group is developing its strategy in this key market.

Key Highlights 

• New North America CEO: Natasha Griffin has been appointed CEO of CMA CGM North America. 

• Industry experience: Griffin has more than 30 years of experience in shipping and logistics. 

• Previous roles: She worked at ZIM and MSC before joining CMA CGM in 2025. 

• Management responsibilities: She will oversee ocean shipping and integrated logistics operations in the United States and Canada. 

• Continued investment: CMA CGM is expanding its port, logistics, and supply chain operations across North America. 

• Broader service scope: Major carriers continue to extend their operations beyond ocean shipping into other parts of the supply chain.

Griffin Takes Over North American Operations with More Than 30 Years of Shipping Experience

Natasha Griffin has more than 30 years of experience in the shipping and logistics industry. She joined the CMA CGM Group in June 2025 as Managing Director of CMA CGM UK. Before that, she spent approximately eight years with ZIM’s UK operations and nearly ten years with MSC in the United Kingdom.

During her time at CMA CGM UK, Griffin was primarily responsible for commercial performance, customer relationships, and business growth. As CEO of CMA CGM North America, her responsibilities will expand to the United States and Canada, covering ocean shipping, logistics, intermodal transportation, and supply chain operations.

She succeeds Adeline Franger Chouraqui, who became CEO and President of CMA CGM America in May 2025.

Why Is North America So Important to CMA CGM?

In terms of business scale, North America is already an important market within CMA CGM’s global network. The group currently employs more than 10,000 people in the United States and Canada, transports more than 5 million TEUs to and from North America annually, and operates 38 services covering 25 ports. It also operates three marine terminals in the United States.

This means Griffin is taking over a business that extends well beyond liner shipping. CMA CGM’s North American operations already span ports, ocean shipping, inland transportation, and logistics, and the range of operations requiring coordination is continuing to expand.

CMA CGM is continuing to invest in the region. In July 2026, the group announced plans to acquire FedEx Supply Chain at an enterprise value of USD 1.4 billion. Once the transaction is completed, CEVA Logistics’ contract logistics operations in North America are expected to nearly triple in scale.

From Ocean Shipping to Broader Supply Chain Services

The proposed acquisition also reflects CMA CGM’s expansion strategy in recent years: ocean shipping is only one part of the supply chain, while ports, warehousing, inland transportation, and contract logistics are becoming new areas of growth.

According to publicly available information, following the acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain, CEVA Logistics’ North American contract logistics operations will include approximately 150 warehouses and 20,000 employees.

Freight forwarders and logistics companies should continue to monitor this trend. In the past, competition among carriers centered largely on routes, vessels, and capacity. Leading shipping groups are now strengthening their capabilities across ports, warehousing, trucking, rail transportation, and supply chain management.

As carriers expand their coverage across both ocean shipping and landside services, the way customers procure logistics services may also change.

What Comes Next for CMA CGM in North America?

Natasha Griffin’s appointment marks another step in CMA CGM’s North American strategy.

On the one hand, she will need to continue expanding the group’s ocean shipping business and maintaining customer relationships. On the other, she will be responsible for coordinating its logistics, intermodal transportation, and supply chain operations to improve coordination across the different business segments.

As CMA CGM continues to expand its logistics assets in North America, other leading carriers are also investing in integrated logistics capabilities. Competition in the North American market may no longer revolve only around which carrier has more vessels or offers lower freight rates. It may increasingly depend on port assets, inland networks, and supply chain service capabilities.

As major shipping groups continue to expand into other parts of the supply chain, how far will the boundaries of the North American market shift? This may be the more important question for the industry to watch following CMA CGM’s latest leadership change.

Sources 

CMA CGM and publicly available industry information

Disclaimer

This article has been compiled from publicly available information and is provided solely for industry reference. Please refer to the company’s latest official announcements for specific information.