Shipping and Logistics Related Jobs Taken Up This Week (and Some on Offer)

SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – The General Meeeting 2021 of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) saw delegates introduced into new roles with many new faces in the 12 elected Vice Presidents of the Extended Board and the respective Chairs of the 13 FIATA Institutes and Bodies, offering a chance for a reinvigorated panel with greater diversity in age and gender, in line with the FIATA Reset Program.

For the second year the 2021 FIATA General Meeting was held virtually and within the Presidency leadership the following appointments were confirmed:

• President: Dr Ivan Petrov, NSBS, Bulgaria

• Senior Vice Presidents:Mr Turgut Erkeskin, UTIKAD, Turkey - Mr Thomas Sim, SLA, Singapore - Mr Jens Roemer, Forward Belgium, Belgium

• Secretary General: Mr Robert Keen, BIFA, United Kingdom
• Treasurer: Mr Galo Molina, ASEACI, Ecuador
• Immediate Past President: Mr Basil Pietersen, SAAFF, South Africa

UK readers will be delighted that long serving British International Freight Association (BIFA) Director General Robert Keen will be an even more prominent figure within FIATA from now. Under his stewardship BIFA has been at the forefront of the drive to attract and train young talent for the freight forwarding and logistics professions.

Keen joined the industry in 1970 and worked for a succession of forwarders before joining BIFA in 1999. He was appointed an executive director of BIFA in 2009, before becoming director general in 2014. He has been chair of FIATA’s Multimodal Transport Institute and a member of FIATA’s Extended Board for several years.

Keen has been replaced as chair of the former by Mark Bromley from Allways International Freight Forwarding, whilst Steve Parker from DHL has been re-elected as chair of FIATA’s Customs Affairs Institute. Meanwhile, John Stubbings from Woodland Group continues as a delegate to FIATA’s Advisory Body Legal Matters. Mark, Steve and John are all past chairs of BIFA and continue to serve as directors on the UK trade association’s Board.

SWITZERLAND – A senior change at a major freight forwarding and logistics player as Stefan Paul is to become the CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, effective August 1, 2022 with the incumbent Dr Detlef Trefzger due to step down for private reasons. Dr Trefzger is expected to be voted onto the board after nine years at the helm of the group.

The new man joined the K+N management board eight years ago having originally joined the company in 1990. After some years working elsewhere in logistics he returned in 1997 and is currently responsible for road logistics.

BAHRAIN – At a change of command ceremony presided over by Commodore Edward Alhgren, deputy commander Combined Maritime Forces, Royal Navy Commodore Don Mackinnon relieved fellow Royal Navy Commodore Gordon Ruddock as commander of Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel, the operational arm of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) a multinational maritime effort that promotes maritime stability, ensures safe passage, and enhances freedom of navigation

CTF Sentinel deters and exposes state-sponsored malign activity that threatens the security of the maritime commons in key waterways in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Oman. The coalition is comprised of eight member nations including The Republic of Albania, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Lithuania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

UK – IRELAND – DHL Supply Chain has made significant changes to its senior leadership team as part of its future growth strategy. Current Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain UK & Ireland, José F. Nava moves to a new global role as Head of Next Generation Services program, DHL Supply Chain, with Saul Resnick, currently Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain Australia & New Zealand replacing him as CEO, DHL Supply Chain, UK & Ireland.

The changes will be effective from January 1 2022, with both reporting directly to Oscar de Bok, CEO, DHL Supply Chain and member of the global DHL Supply Chain Board. Nava, in post since 2018 is said to have overseen profit growth and will now seek future growth opportunities. Resnick, with DHL from 2005 as Director, Healthcare Australia became CEO Australia & New Zealand with responsibility for the Life Sciences & Healthcare business within the APAC region in 2016, growing both revenue and profitability.

UK – IRELAND – XPO Logistics has appointed Lynn Brown to lead the company's human resources organisation in the UK and Ireland. She will report to Valerie Chaut, head of human resources Europe, and Dan Myers, managing director UK and Ireland. Brown has more than 15 years of experience in HR leadership. Prior to joining XPO, she served in senior roles with Gist Limited for nearly a decade, with a focus on talent acquisition, development and retention. She holds a degree in business studies from Glasgow Caledonian University, as well as professional qualifications.

UK – Thomas Miller, international insurance provider, has appointed Angela Holder-Holdsworth as Internal Audit Director. Reporting to Bruce Kesterton, Chief Executive, Thomas Miller, Angela takes over the leadership of Internal Audit responsibility from Andrew Steet.Her role will ensure Thomas Miller’s Risk Management, governance and internal control processes continue to operate effectively for Thomas Miller and its managed Clubs.

Angela is a highly accomplished auditor, bringing with her extensive knowledge in audit and Risk Management, Solvency II, as well as Internal Control Systems (COSO & COBiT). She joins from Arch Insurance Group where she was VP of Internal Audit. She has also previously held various risk and auditing roles for Montpelier Re, XL Group, Flagstone Reinsurance and Aspen Re.

UK – The West of England P&I Club has announced the creation of a dedicated Charterers and Traders product team to manage its Charterers Comprehensive Cover, which provides bespoke cover for charterers and traders. Suumit Madhu will lead the new team with support from Nicola Goff, Christina Anderson, Chris Ward and Paul Kaye covering both Underwriting and Claims support for Members.

Charterers operate in an increasingly litigious environment which is further compounded by the evolving quantum of risks. Operating without specialist insurance leaves charterers exposed to third party risks which can quickly lead to significant claims. Inflammable, corrosive, or explosive cargoes pose significant risks and a charterer may be strictly liable for any ensuing liabilities even when cargo details are misdeclared.

DENMARK – Not so much an appointment as a call for new staff as short sea container group Unifeeder, which is relocating its operational centre from Rotterdam to Aarhus is looking for personnel to man the new set up 24/7. The positions involve the planning and operational cycles of the fleet and anyone with airport, navy, maritime, logistics or other relevant experience can apply.

The candidates must be ready to join a 6-week duty roll with a mix of day, evening, and night shifts. Unifeeder is of course now part of the DP World group with a 100+ strong box ship fleet. The application process is being handled by MARPRO Search & Selection via this link where all details can be found.

EUROPE – The European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) has re-elected Dirk Stahl and Maciej Gladyga as President and Vice President respectively to serve a further two year period to November 2023. This period will consist of a number of important legislative revision, such as the Rail Freight Corridors Regulation and TEN-T Guidelines, as well as a revision to existing State Aid rules for Railway Undertakings.

Mr Stahl is the CEO of BLS Cargo. BLS Cargo operates with about 400 employees in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium and is one of the main corridor operators providing rail freight transport services on the north-south corridor between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Mr. Gladyga is the Managing Director of IGTL (Land Transport Chamber of Commerce of Poland). Within this role, Mr Gladyga represents operators of various sizes and wagon keepers within the Polish rail freight market.

Photo: Commodore Edward Ahlgren OBE RN (centre), salutes Commodore Don Mackinnon at the CTF Sentinel change of command ceremony as Royal Navy Commodore Gordon Ruddock (Left) looks on. Image US Army photo by Specialist Natianna Strachen.