As of 1 June 2025, CEO Cas König will leave Groningen Seaports. König accepted a new position as CEO of the North Sea Port port authority as of the same date. North Sea Port is the cross-border port authority that covers more than sixty kilometres from the ports of Ghent (Belgium) to Terneuzen and Vlissingen. König has held the position of CEO of Groningen Seaports for 7.5 years, having been appointed on 1 September 2017.

The Supervisory Board of Groningen Seaports expressed its appreciation to König for his work on behalf of the port authority over the past years. “There were many new developments in the ports of Delfzijl and Eemshaven during this period that played an important role in creating broad prosperity in the region. One of the most remarkable was achieving a floating LNG terminal in just six months, after the start of the war in Ukraine. By creating this terminal, Europa became less dependent on imports of Russian gas. More than ever before, the ports play a crucial role in view of the unstable geopolitical world we see and experience at the moment”, said Frans Keurentjes, chairperson of the Supervisory Board of Groningen Seaports.

Warm feelings
König himself is grateful for his time with Groningen Seaports, but is also looking forward to a new phase in his career: “After 41 years I’m leaving Groningen with a heavy heart. I will have the opportunity to lead an unusual port authority that operates in two countries. North Sea Port is also significantly larger than Groningen Seaports. It is a unique port with exciting challenges. I look back on my period at Groningen Seaports and my years in the Groningen industry with warm feelings. With the right investments and with the opportunities open to Groningen with the funds for Nij Begun, the ports have a fantastic prospect to offer the people of Groningen long-term broad prosperity, whilst taking account of the interests of the area”, said König.

Looking for a new CEO
Over the coming period, the Supervisory Board will be looking for a new CEO for the port authority. This person will be proposed to the Gemeenschappelijke Regeling, the joint arrangement port authority Groningen Seaports, which is the sole shareholder of Groningen Seaports. Until that time, the port authority will be led by CFO Harold Sanders.