Maersk will add 520 jobs to its Charlotte workforce as it creates its North American headquarters in the Queen City, the state announced Tuesday. The Copenhagen, Denmark-based logistics company has had a regional office in Charlotte since 1998, and it currently employs 670 workers in Mecklenburg County.
Maersk will invest $16 million as it brings in finance, human resources, legal, commercial strategy and technology positions to increase its workforce to more than 1,300 workers by 2028. Those new jobs will pay an average wage of $100,962, more than 16% greater than the current average wage of $86,830 in Mecklenburg County.
The state granted Maersk state incentives valued at $9.8 million over 12 years to help facilitate the project. The city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County added incentives totaling $530,259. Maersk will only receive the money if it hits investment and job creation targets.
Atlanta was a finalist for the project, but Maersk chose Charlotte affordable business costs, availability of labor, business climate and transportation infrastructure, among other factors, according to the state.
Founded in 1904, Maersk already employs more than 10,000 people in North America, and more than 100,000 globally. In 2008, Maersk acquired the 345,000-square-foot Royal Sun Alliance in southwest Charlotte, where it had operations for its subsidiaries, including APM Terminal North America, Bridge Terminal Transport, Maersk Line and Maersk Logistics. At the time, Maersk said the office had space for as many as 1,200 workers.
The publicly traded company remains controlled by descendants of the founding Moller family. It had net income of $6.1 billion and revenue of $55 billion in 2024.
A subsidiary of Moller-Maersk, the company is a comprehensive supply chain partner, offering integrated logistics that span ocean and inland transportation, warehousing, customs services and digital logistics platforms.
“North Carolina has been a key partner in our growth for more than two decades, “ said Charles van der Steene, president of the North America Region at Maersk. “Designating Charlotte as our North American headquarters location reinforces our confidence in the state’s business climate and workforce. We’re investing in North Carolina’s future because it’s a place where innovation and opportunity come together.”