A Chinese tech expert has been appointed by COSCO to run Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOIL), the holding company of Hong Kong containerline subsidiary OOCL.

Chen Yangfan, 47, is taking over from Huang Xiaowen as CEO at the famous liner brand with Huang set to retire.

Chen had 25 years of experience in information technology prior to joining COSCO two years ago. He graduated from the University of Essex in the UK with a master’s degree in telecommunications and information systems.

OOCL, which has always had a strong tech reputation within liner shipping, was taken over by COSCO five years ago.