Announcing his retirement, Glickman said, “When I joined ZIM nine years ago, I did so after deep deliberation, but with absolute clarity of purpose. I believed in this company, I believed in its people, and I believed that with the right strategy, discipline, and courage, we could transform ZIM into a stronger, more innovative, and more resilient global player. Together, we did exactly that.”

“Over these years, ZIM delivered what can only be described as an astounding turnaround, achieving results that, at times, were unprecedented for the company and restoring pride in the ZIM name across the industry. None of this belongs to one person. It belongs to the extraordinary ZIM team, colleagues across the globe who showed professionalism, determination, and heart every single day. I am profoundly proud of what we achieved together, and I am grateful to every employee, in every country and every function, for the role they played in that success,” he added.

In early 2026, Zim signed a deal with German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, in which the latter will acquire 100% of its Israeli counterpart’s shares for USD 4.2 billion, apart from delisting the company from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Hapag-Lloyd will sell Zim’s Israeli operations to Ishay Davidi-led FIMI fund, in order to comply with the conditions of Tel Aviv’s “golden share,” which mandates the continuity of the country’s maritime transport during emergencies.

“In recent months, the company’s board promoted a merger process with Hapag-Lloyd. I respect the board’s decision; however, after reflection, I concluded that I cannot continue as CEO of ZIM. I have always put my heart and soul into this position. For me, leadership is not a title – it is a commitment, and it must be aligned with the journey ahead. One of my central aims throughout this period was to help secure the future of ZIM’s dedicated employees. Our employees have also lived through a very challenging period of war, and I have felt a deep responsibility to lead with steadiness and care. With the transition process underway, I believe this is the right moment to move ahead,” Glickman remarked.

Before Hapag-Lloyd’s takeover, Glickman had reportedly attempted to lead a group to acquire Zim. However, the bid was rejected. In March 2026, the outgoing CEO sold nearly all of his shares in Zim for approximately USD 40 million, at a price about 20% lower than the offer price set by Hapag-Lloyd. Zim went public on the NYSE in 2021 at a valuation of USD 1.5 billion pre-money and USD 1.7 billion post-money. Its current market value stands at around USD 3.2 billion, approximately USD 1 billion below the acquisition price.

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