Thursday, March 12, 2015

A New Boss for Freight Forwarding and Logistics National Group Celebrating 30 Years in the Market

Increased Automotive Business from Environmental Scheme Helps Drive Country Subsidiary Forward
Shipping News Feature

SPAIN – French headquartered freight forwarding and logistics group Gefco is celebrating 30 years of activity in Spain this month saying the national subsidiary has managed to establish itself in a competitive logistics market and has maintained its top three position in a difficult economic climate. Last week an event was held to celebrate this thirtieth anniversary, with Luc Nadal, Chairman of the Gefco Group Management Board, major names from the national press and the subsidiaries' employees all in attendance. The event also marked the arrival of Julián Navarro, Gefco Spain's new Managing Director.

In the course of its thirty years of activity, Gefco has expanded its network by regularly opening new logistics centres, developing new services and broadening its customer portfolio, which now includes 5,500 companies. With 36 logistics sites and 839 employees, the subsidiary manages the logistics flows of major industrial groups from various sectors including electronics, health and beauty and automotive products, this last something the group has largely built its reputation on.

Logistics represents 5.5% of Spain's GDP, making it a major player in the Spanish economy. With a turnover of €3.6 billion recorded in 2013 for the 175 largest stakeholders, it is also an extremely competitive sector and Gefco Spain represents 9.5% of this market. In 2014 a number of key successes allowed Gefco Spain to maintain its leading position including new contracts with large worldwide groups, a foray into the temperature-controlled transport market in collaboration with Panstar, and a new Finished Vehicles Logistics rail transport offering.

The Spanish subsidiary also benefited from the recovery of the Automotive sector, due in particular to the national plan to aid the Automotive sector, Programa de Incentivos al Vehículo Eficiente (Pive), which boosted sales in 2014 with 855,308 vehicle registrations recorded over the year, up 18.4% compared with 2013. This sector also plays a key role in the implementation of the 7-year 4PL contract with General Motors, which has entrusted Gefco with the management and optimisation of its entire logistics chain in Europe and Russia.

2015 marks a change in management, with Julián Navarro leading the subsidiary following the retirement of Dulsé Díaz. Mr. Navarro, 49, joined Gefco in 1988, having notably managed Gefco's subsidiaries in Argentina and Chile between 2009 and 2014. Luc Nadal, Chairman of the Gefco Management Board observed:

"Gefco Spain plays a key role within the Gefco Group: its renowned expertise and its geographical location give it valuable advantages in the development of trade with the Maghreb region and Latin America. Above all, its proactive diversification strategy and the motivation of its teams place the subsidiary at the heart of the Gefco Group's ambitious development strategy, which aims to double its turnover by 2020.”

Photo: A shot inside the Barcelona freight platform.