Posted on January 19, 2026
Young Brothers, LLC, Hawai‘i’s trusted interisland freight company, announced the appointment of experienced logistics executive Steen Christensen as President, effective January 13, 2026. Christensen, who has four decades of experience in every sector of the logistics value chain, was selected following a comprehensive executive search by Young Brothers’ Board of Directors.
Christensen succeeds Frank Almaraz, who joined Young Brothers in July 2025 as Interim President to provide stability and continuity during a defined leadership transition. Drawing on his extensive infrastructure leadership experience, Almaraz guided the company through a pivotal period, strengthening its financial foundation through a major regulatory approval and advancing reform efforts aimed at improving efficiency, managing costs, and sustaining dependable service to Hawaiʻi’s neighbor islands. Almaraz will continue to advise the company through the end of the month as it begins implementing these reforms, helping ensure continuity as Young Brothers moves into its next phase of leadership.
“On behalf of the Board, we extend our sincere thanks to Frank Almaraz for his steady leadership during a critical transition and for helping position Young Brothers for the future,” said Emily Porter, chair of the Board of Directors’ executive search committee. “As we welcome Steen to the Young Brothers family, we are confident that his uniquely strong blend of operational experience and transformational leadership will build on that foundation and guide the company forward with improved financial sustainability and reliable service connecting our island communities.”
“Young Brothers plays a vital role in Hawaiʻi’s supply chain and way of life, and I recognize the deep responsibility that comes with ensuring we continue to fulfill this essential mission,” said Christensen. “My first and most important priority is listening and learning from our dedicated employees, our valued customers, and the communities we serve to understand how we can build a stronger future for Young Brothers together.”
About Steen Christensen
Steen Christensen has nearly 40 years of executive leadership experience spanning transportation and logistics across North America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He has worked across every aspect of the logistics value chain from project and contract logistics to e-commerce, air and ocean freight, and customs.
Most recently, Steen was Founder and CEO of Koldstone Logistics & Consulting, where he advised logistics and transportation enterprises on operational performance and organizational transformation. Previously, he held senior executive roles at Scan Global Logistics, SEKO Logistics, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, GEODIS, and Deutsche Post DHL.
Steen has a proven record of transforming underperforming companies and positioning them for longterm growth, including leading EBIT improvement within a year at Hellmann North America and revitalizing DHL’s Ocean Freight division.
Steen holds an HD-A, a Danish degree equivalent to an MBA in International Marketing, as well as an Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics from the Copenhagen Business School.
About Young Brothers
Young Brothers, LLC is Hawai‘i’s trusted interisland freight company. Founded 125 years ago, Young Brothers is responsible for transporting 100% of all ocean cargo that originates and ends in Hawaiʻi and is the only water carrier to serve Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i. The publicly-regulated company offers 12 weekly sailings between the ports of Nāwiliwili, Honolulu, Kaumalapau, Kaunakakai, Kahului, Kawaihae, and Hilo. More than 400 highly skilled employees move what matters most for Hawai‘i using state-of-the-art shoreside equipment and a fleet of eight barges and eight tugboats, including four fuel-efficient Kāpena-class tugs. Young Brothers is an independent operating company of the Saltchuk family of companies.For more information, visit youngbrothershawaii.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
