Shipping giant Maersk moves North American HQ to south Charlotte
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Maersk's Charlotte campus. Photo: Provided by Mecklenburg County
Global shipping giant Maersk is moving its North American headquarters from New Jersey to North Carolina, boosting its Charlotte workforce to 1,300-plus employees.
Why it matters: The $16 million project is the latest in a streak of corporate expansions in Charlotte, following last week's major Scout Motors announcement, plus others from SoFi Technologies and Pacific Life.
Between the lines: Maersk's south Charlotte North American headquarters will be a corporate hub, with jobs in finance, human resources, commercial strategy and technology. The company has operated at the Steele Creek campus since 2006 and will create 520 jobs as part of this relocation.
- "Charlotte has been an important part of our story here at Maersk for over two decades," Charles van der Steene, Maersk's president for North America, said in a press release. "The city's strong infrastructure and talented workforce have helped drive our growth over the years."
- The Copenhagen-based logistics provider, which operates one of the world's biggest shipping container fleets, employs more than 10,000 people in North America and around 100,000 worldwide.
Follow the money: North Carolina officials awarded a Job Development Investment Grant for the project on Tuesday, agreeing to reimburse up to $7.9 million over 12 years as Maersk hits job and investment targets.
- Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte are contributing approximately $500,000 in incentives, as reported in Tuesday's North Carolina Department of Commerce Economic Investment Committee meeting.
- The new jobs will pay an average salary of $100,962, with annual payroll likely to exceed $52.5 million.
- State officials estimate the project will boost North Carolina's economy by $1.5 billion, according to the press release.
The intrigue: Maersk reportedly conducted "a competitive search" and also considered Atlanta before picking North Carolina.
- van der Steene attributed the decision to the company's "confidence in the state's business climate and workforce."