Jacques Saadé, founder of the CMA CGM Group, was promoted to Commander of the French Order of Maritime Merit. This distinction is only given each year to as few as ten personalities whose involvement in the maritime world is exceptional. Jacques Saadé was promoted directly to the rank of Commander, the highest one of the order. Former transport minister and current president of the department of Charente-Maritime Dominique Bussereau handed the insignia to Mr. Saadé this Friday at the headquarters of the group in Marseilles. This distinction highlights the extraordinary career of Jacques Saadé, as well as his unique contribution to the French and international maritime economy and to the promotion of France’s image in the world. He has made the CMA CGM Group, founded in 1978, a leading worldwide shipping group, employing 29,000 people in more than 160 countries for annual revenue worth $15.6 billion. Recently, CMA CGM has marked the industry with the acquisition of NOL, the world’s 12th largest container shipping company based in Singapore and the creation of the OCEAN Alliance, the world's main operational alliance.