SINGAPORE’S Pacific International Lines has completed its takeover of NZ agency McKay Shipping Holdings and renamed the company, which otherwise carries on “as normal”.
The business, acquired by PIL in November 2023, has been re-branded PIL (New Zealand) Ltd and the managing director of more than 20 years, Craig Harris, is moving to an advisory role until the end of this year. General manager Leonard Bentley, who joined in July 2023 with two decades of experience in shipping, sales, operations and customer engagement, has stepped up as MD.
In a LinkedIn post Mr Bentley thanked Mr Harris for his unwavering dedication to the business in NZ for 47 years: “He has been an integral part of our success over the years and continues to be a huge support to the wider business and to me personally.”
PIL thanked Mr Harris for his “unwavering dedication and being instrumental in the success of McKay over the last four decades.”
The name change continues a PIL policy of “continuous efforts to unify the PIL network under a single brand identity”. In July last year Pacific Asia Express, which represents PIL and subsidiary Mariana Express Lines in Australia, was renamed PIL Australia Pty Ltd.
Separately, in November 2023 Inchcape Shipping Services acquired full ownership of ISS-McKay Ltd, a joint venture that was set up in 2008 to conduct core port agency business in NZ. At the time of the announcement it was claimed ISS-McKay had become the leading port agency in NZ, providing full coverage to the North and South Island through a network of eight port offices and 41 local staff.
