Global Ship Lease will appoint a new director with deep experience in finance as the company seeks to refinance $346m in long-term debt.

Philippe Lemonnier will be the seventh member on the board of London-based GSL. CMA CGM, Global Ship Lease's largest shareholder, nominated Lemonnier to the board.

He currently serves as a vice president of finance at CMA CGM, which he joined in 2005.