Zim Israel moves North American Headquarters to Norfolk, Va.

The North American headquarters of Zim Israel Navigation Co. Ltd., the world’s ninth largest shipping company, will be moving to Norfolk from New York. Zim-American Israeli Shipping Co. Inc. will be relocating from the 16th floor of the World Trade Center I in Manhattan to a new $6.2 million building in the Lake Wright Executive Center in Norfolk.

Zim-American is transferring all of its key functions to Norfolk, including marketing, accounting and information systems.

The company expects to open its new building by Sept. 4 and will eventually employ 235 people.

“Zim looked nationally for the location best meeting our long-term business needs. Norfolk emerged as an extremely attractive location ” said Shaul Cohen-Mintz, Zim-American’s president, in a statement.

Zim-American plans to transfer 30 to 35 executives and department heads to Norfolk and hire locally to fill other positions at the headquarters.