ZIM appoints Dr. Chen Lichtenstein as CEO after Glickman exit

Israeli container liner company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) has appointed Dr. Chen Lichtenstein as its new president and chief executive officer, with the leadership transition set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Dr. Chen Lichtenstein will replace the existing president and chief executive officer Eli Glickman, whose resignation was announced in April, and will also join ZIM’s board of directors.

ZIM said the employment agreement between the company and Dr. Lichtenstein will be brought to shareholder approval as required by the Israeli Companies Law of 1999.

In accordance with ZIM, the new president and chief executive brings extensive management, business and financial experience in the global arena.

Between 2020 and 2023, he served as the chief financial officer at Syngenta Group, a global agricultural technology company, and was also responsible for strategy, integration and productivity.

Prior to his position at Syngenta Group, he served as the president and chief executive of ADAMA Ltd. (formerly known as Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd.) from 2014 to 2020.

From 2013 to 2014, Dr. Lichtenstein also served as president and chief executive of China National Agrochemical Corporation, ChemChina’s agrochemical division, and parent of Syngenta Group.

From 2006 to 2013 he served as the deputy chief executive officer, head of global operations and held various other roles within Makhteshim Agan Industries.

Previously Dr. Lichtenstein served as a senior investment banking executive at Goldman Sachs in New York and London from 1999 to 2006.

Dr. Lichtenstein currently serves as a member of the board of directors at Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd., as chairman of the board of directors at international companies in the fields of environmental sciences and biotechnology and as a senior advisor to international investment entities.

ZIM’s chairman of the board, Yair Seroussi, stated about the new appointment, “Dr. Chen Lichtenstein is a highly experienced top-tier international executive, with a unique combination of extensive managerial experience, financial depth, strategic insight, and the ability to lead complex global organizations. His broad experience in managing international companies, working with global markets, shareholders, and boards of directors, together with his judgment and experience in leading transformation and integration processes, make him the right executive to lead ZIM at this time.”

Dr. Lichtenstein, ZIM president and CEO-appointee added, “I thank ZIM’s board of directors for its confidence and for the opportunity to lead a global Israeli company with a meaningful legacy, growth and business success, broad international operations, and outstanding people. ZIM operates in a dynamic, competitive, and complex market, and I attach great importance to maintaining the company’s stability, strengthening its performance and business capabilities, and continuing to create value for customers, employees, partners, and shareholders.”