APM Terminals strengthens executive leadership in Pecém and Suape
New executives join the company’s Commercial and Finance teams.
APM Terminals is strengthening its executive leadership structure in Pecém and Suape with the appointment of two professionals to strategic roles. Carolina Brown has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), overseeing the Commercial, Marketing and Communications areas, while Gustavo Laurenti takes on the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Both executives join the company’s leadership team at a time of business expansion across Northeast Brazil.
With a career built across the maritime, port and logistics sectors, Carolina Brown holds a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Foreign Trade and a postgraduate specialization in International Logistics from the University of Valencia in Spain. Throughout her career, she has worked for global shipping companies and in port terminal management, building extensive experience in commercial management, market development, and relationships with customers and stakeholders.
“I had been following APM Terminals’ projects in the region for some time and could see the tremendous potential there. When the opportunity arose, I realized there was a strong connection between what I envisioned for my career and what the company was building. Today, I am certain I made the right decision. Northeast Brazil offers significant opportunities for the development of logistics and foreign trade, supported by the dynamism of its companies and the region’s economic potential,” she says.
According to the executive, the terminals’ commitment goes beyond cargo handling. In her view, terminals play an important role in strengthening the regional economy and supporting companies seeking to expand their presence in international trade.
“There is significant potential for companies in the region. Through the investments APM Terminals is making in Pernambuco and Ceará, we are expanding terminal capacity and connectivity, creating the conditions to handle new cargo flows, develop new maritime routes and offer the market more logistics options. We believe in Northeast Brazil and continue to invest in expanding the region’s logistics connectivity and competitiveness,” she says.
“This progress also depends on the integrated efforts of the different stakeholders within the port and logistics ecosystem. The region benefits from a collaborative environment involving port authorities, regulatory bodies and other institutions that contribute to the efficiency, safety and development of operations. This is an important factor in increasing competitiveness and attracting new business. Our goal is to act as partners to our customers, providing infrastructure, services and solutions that support the growth of their businesses and the region’s economic development,” Carolina Brown adds.
Further strengthening the management structure of the Pecém and Suape terminals, Gustavo Laurenti has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO). An economist with a degree from São Paulo State University (Unesp) and an MBA in Controllership, Auditing and Financial Management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), he brings nearly two decades of experience in corporate finance, financial planning and decision-making support.
Laurenti has spent more than 12 years with the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, developing his career across different countries and executive finance roles. He previously worked at Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), in Santos, led the finance function at APM Terminals Moín in Costa Rica, and later joined the company’s global headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, supporting operations and projects across different regions. His experience includes investment appraisal, financial governance, risk management and business decision support.
For Gustavo, this moment represents an important step in strengthening the company’s presence in Northeast Brazil, particularly in Suape.
“We are at an important stage for the company in the region. In Suape, our focus is on ensuring the efficient implementation of our activities and building a solid operation for the long term. We want to support this expansion through responsible financial management, contributing to the sustainability of the business, the creation of value for our customers and the development of our operations across Northeast Brazil,” Gustavo Laurenti says.