Christian Lorenz
Press Officer
Telephone 0221 / 390 11 90
E-mail lorenzc(at)hgk.de
Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG
Press Office
Am Niehler Hafen 2
50735 Cologne
Richard Schroeter has been appointed Director of Corporate Affairs – and is driving forward the internationalisation of the company’s logistics and sea freight operations
Cologne. The HGK Group is strengthening its team with an internationally experienced executive: from 8 June 2026, Richard Schroeter will take on the role of Director of Corporate Affairs, overseeing not only the strategic direction of the group’s international sea freight operations but also the company’s public image. The aim is also to play an active role in shaping the political and regulatory framework and to effectively support the HGK Group’s positioning on key future issues. In this newly created role, the experienced manager will report directly to Steffen Bauer, CEO of the HGK Group.
Steffen Bauer comments on the appointment as follows: “Richard Schroeter brings with him global expertise in sea freight and a strong background in public affairs. Thanks to his role as Director of Corporate Affairs, we are strengthening our ability to act in the political arena. At the same time, we are systematically expanding our international sea freight activities and strategic partnerships.”
Logistics expertise par excellence
Over the course of his four-decade career, Richard Schroeter has acquired logistics expertise both at home and abroad. This includes, above all, exceptional expertise in maritime shipping gained through a variety of leadership roles. Positions in Hong Kong with Hapag-Lloyd and in Singapore with DSV Air & Ocean thus form, among other things, the basis for further developing the sea freight business and international business relationships at a strategic level.
“I am very much looking forward to providing strategic support to the HGK Group in my new role as Director of Corporate Affairs and to further strengthening its position. With its integrated logistics approach, the Group operates at the interface between business, infrastructure, the energy transition and transport policy. I intend to draw specifically on my international logistics experience, particularly in the maritime sector, as well as my networks in politics and industry, to further raise the HGK Group’s profile among relevant stakeholders and drive forward future-oriented topics such as sustainable logistics, digitalisation and international transport chains. ”, says Richard Schroeter, commenting on the objectives of his role.
Wide range of responsibilities
His key responsibilities include developing and implementing the group’s public affairs strategy, as well as maintaining and developing relationships with political decision-makers, public authorities, associations and other relevant stakeholders. He is responsible for the group’s issue, crisis and reputation management, monitors political and regulatory developments, and represents the company’s interests in political and social dialogue.
As a representative of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Richard Schroeter has, over the past three years, ensured that the Antwerp-Bruges port network is heard in federal politics and at state level. On future-oriented topics such as the energy transition, ranging from a hydrogen-based industry to the capture, utilisation and storage of CO₂ (CCUS), the experienced logistics manager served as a point of contact for decision-makers from the business sector as well as from politics and public authorities. “His extensive network will help us to improve the HGK Group’s positioning, particularly on future-oriented issues. At an international level, with him on board, we are now even better positioned for our growth trajectory in international logistics and the sea freight business,” concludes Steffen Bauer, outlining his plans for Richard Schroeter’s role.