People: Executives rising in air cargo

Big players in the air cargo industry made several key appointments as 2023 came to a close: Reiter to head DHL Global Forwarding in US [caption id="attachment_57139761" align="alignright" width="272"] Robert Reiter[/caption] DHL Global Forwarding , the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group , appointed Robert Reiter as chief executive for the U.S. region, a role in which he is responsible for leading more than 3,500 employees across 39 operating stations, according to a DHL release last month. Reiter has more than 30 years of experience in logistics and transportation management, serving in leadership roles for six years at DB Schenker , more than 17 years at transport company Panalpina and nearly five years at Kuehne+Nagel . Reiter “brings to DHL a successful track record of applying new technologies, services and ideas to improve the logistics chains of customers in the most efficient and sustainable way,” Tim Robertson , chief executive of DHL Global Forwarding Americas, said in the release. Ackerman to leave DFW for LAX [caption id="attachment_57139757" align="alignright" width="200"] John Ackerman[/caption] The Los Angeles City Council on Dec. 12 unanimously confirmed John Ackerman to become chief executive of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which oversees Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Ackerman will assume his new post in February following several months of service from interim Chief Executive Bea Hsu . Ackerman has been with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for nine years, most recently serving as executive vice president of global strategy and development. He also held leadership roles at Denver International Airport (DEN) and United Airlines . “John’s proven executive leadership experience at two of the top airports in the world and an entire career’s worth of expertise in the aviation industry will be invaluable to us in Los Angeles, and I look forward to our collaborative efforts ahead,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. Parra, Williams promoted at DHL Express [caption id="attachment_57139755" align="alignright" width="148"] Andrew Williams[/caption] [caption id="attachment_57139758" align="alignright" width="148"] Mike Parra[/caption] DHL Express announced last month that, effective Jan. 1, Mike Parra has been promoted from CEO for DHL Express Americas to CEO for DHL Express Europe. Andrew Williams has become CEO for the Americas, a promotion from his role as CEO for DHL Express Canada. Parra had been the Americas CEO since 2016 and began his logistics career at DHL Express in 1997 as a service center manager in Miami. Since then, he has been regional services director, vice president of operations for the U.S., senior vice president of network operations for the Americas and CEO for DHL Express U.S. He also oversees global sponsorships for the division and will continue to do so in his new role. Williams began his logistics career in 1996 as a sales executive at Loomis Express, which was integrated into DHL Group in 2002. Since then, Williams has been sales director for Eastern Canada DHL Express; vice president and general manager for Ontario DHL Express; vice president of sales, marketing and customer service for DHL Express Canada; and vice president of sales and marketing for DHL Express Americas. He was appointed Canada CEO in 2015. “Mike has achieved many accomplishments in the Americas, including consistently strong revenue and profit growth, expansion of our leading international time definite network and an intense focus on employee engagement and well-being,” John Pearson , global CEO for DHL Express, said in a release. “Andrew Williams has been a great leader for our organization in Canada, growing revenue by nearly four times during his tenure and increasing our market share in the country.” Ruf to lead dnata ops in Switzerland [caption id="attachment_57139763" align="alignright" width="253"] Willy Ruf[/caption] Air services provider dnata appointed Willy Ruf as managing director for Switzerland last month. Ruf will oversee dnata’s ground handling and cargo business and operations at Geneva Airport (GVA) and Zurich Airport (ZRH), according to a release. Ruf has more than 30 years of experience in the ground handling, cargo and travel industries, most recently as dnata’s head of operations in Geneva. He previously held senior leadership roles at Wisag and Swissport . Ruf “has demonstrated exceptional management skills and steadfast commitment to excellence as our operations leader in Geneva,” Stewart Angus , dnata’s regional CEO for Europe, said in the release. Ruf began his new position Jan. 1, replacing Roberto Feijoo Lopez , who has left the company after 16 years. Wilmking to serve on DB Schenker’s contract logistics board [caption id="attachment_57139759" align="alignright" width="233"] Niklas Wilmking[/caption] DB Schenker appointed Niklas Wilmking to its global board of management for contract logistics and supply chain management. He took office Jan. 1, replacing Hessel Verhage , who left the company for personal reasons. Wilmking has worked for DB Schenker since 2002 in several management positions, most recently as CEO Asia Pacific. He also served as executive vice president global air freight and in key roles in Germany and the Asia Pacific region, including managing director of DB Schenker Vietnam and vice president strategic business development of DB Schenker Asia Pacific, according to a release from DB Schenker . “In more than 20 years at DB Schenker, Niklas has impressed in every position and is an exemplary leader,” Levin Holle , chair of the supervisory board, said in the release. “We are delighted to be able to harness his many years of in-depth expertise and his great understanding of the needs of our global customers for the management board of DB Schenker.” Dronamics appoints chief revenue officer [caption id="attachment_57137896" align="alignright" width="234"] Gavin Gomes[/caption] Cargo drone airline Dronamics has appointed Gavin Gomes as chief revenue officer. Gomes stepped into the role Jan. 1 after serving as general manager of Dronamics Australia since August. Gomes succeeds Tim Martin , who was in the role for approximately nine months. Gomes, a pilot, previously led commercial and management teams at Australia Post , Canon , Telstra and IBM , according to a December release from Dronamics. “Gavin’s capacity to motivate commercial teams and navigate challenges skillfully is remarkable,” Dronamics co-founder and Chief Executive Svilen Rangelov said in the release. “Since joining us, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional management abilities, essential for helping drive Dronamics into its next chapter.” Runge to oversee project cargo ops for Gebruder Weiss [caption id="attachment_57139762" align="alignright" width="228"] Torge Runge[/caption] Transport and logistics firm Gebruder Weiss hired Torge Runge to be senior operations manager of industrial projects and energy transport solutions for North America, according to a December release from the company. Based out of Houston, Runge will oversee all project cargo operations and related activities. With more than 25 years of experience, Runge came to Gebruder Weiss from Kuehne+Nagel , where for nearly five years he held a variety of roles, including national project logistics control tower manager. “The caliber of [Runge’s] leadership abilities and operational expertise is second to none, and his vast experience will further enhance the tailor-made logistics solutions and project execution capabilities we provide to our clients,” Mark McCullough , chief executive of Gebruder Weiss North America, said in the release. Shih to helm Dimerco [caption id="attachment_57139756" align="alignright" width="249"] Jeffrey Shih[/caption] Third-party logistics provider Dimerco Express Group has a new chief executive: Jeffrey Shih . Shih has 35 years of experience in the logistics industry, primarily with Dimerco. As CEO, he will oversee Dimerco’s three business divisions: airfreight, ocean freight and contract logistics. “Looking ahead, Dimerco will continue its global expansion efforts, particularly in the U.S. market,” Shih said in a release from the company. “And we’ll continue to be a major logistics service provider in supply chain digitalization through the use of robotic process automation and AI, driving toward the elimination of traditional, paper-based work processes that remain all too common in global freight management.” Coutts named an EV Cargo CEO [caption id="attachment_57139760" align="alignright" width="197"] Paul Coutts[/caption] With the start of 2024, Paul Coutts became chief executive of EV Cargo ’s Global Forwarding and Technology arms. Coutts joined Hong Kong-based logistics and supply chain services company EV Cargo in 2021 as global chief operating officer. His more than 40 years of industry experience includes serving as group CEO of Singapore Post and global CEO of Toll Global Forwarding , according to a December release from EV Cargo. EV Cargo Global Forwarding is the company’s largest operating division with 65 locations in 26 countries worldwide to handle global air and sea freight forwarding, European cross-border road freight forwarding and contract logistics activities in Europe. EV Cargo Technology develops cloud-based supply chain management software.

People: Executives rising in air cargo

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