Cerberus Capital Management has grown its team of former bankers and container shipping experts following its acquisition of billions of dollars of distressed German shipping debt.

Former HSH Nordbank executives Peter Sikkel and Rudiger Volke have hooked up with the New York-based private equity firm, according to German financial sources.

Cerberus has also poached Niclas Ahrens from Peter Dohle, where he was managing director of its Blue Net Chartering containership joint venture with Greek owner Costamare.