Shipping, Freight Forwarding and Logistics HR Changes Across the Globe

WORLDWIDE – This week’s update of staff movements and appointments within the shipping and forwarding, freight and logistics sectors began with some major movements in one of the preeminent air transport organisations as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an organisational restructuring of its main divisions and regional operations with the majority of changes due to take effect from 1 July 2013.

IATA’s regional operations will be consolidated from seven regional structures into five. Each region continues to be led by a Regional Vice President (RVP) who is responsible for driving all activities within their region, while maintaining the consistency of IATA’s global standards and positions. To ensure effective regional input to IATA’s leadership, RVPs will report to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

North and South America will be consolidated into an Americas region and based in Miami. The combined region will be led by Peter Cerda who is promoted from Regional Director for Safety, Operations and Infrastructure for the Americas to RVP for the Americas. Africa and Middle East North Africa will be combined into one region to be known as Africa and Middle East. Hussein Dabbas, from IATA’s Amman regional office, will lead the region as RVP. Asia-Pacific, North Asia and Europe will continue to serve members in those regions as in the current structure with regional offices in Singapore, Beijing and Madrid. The RVPs leading these regions continue to be Maunu Von Lueders, Zhang Baojian and Rafael Schvartzman, respectively.

IATA’s four head office divisions will be reorganised into five in order to bring together activities sharing common stakeholders and focus. The internal Corporate Services division remains under the leadership of Ayaz Hussain, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer. Airports, Passenger and Cargo Services (APCS), a newly created division, will combine the association’s main activities with respect to airports, security, passenger and cargo services. It will be led by Thomas Windmuller, currently Senior Vice President (SVP), Member and Government Relations.

Member and External Relations (MER) will take primary responsibility for the association’s advocacy activities. It will be led by Paul Steele who is promoted to SVP from his current role of Director of Aviation Environment. Safety and Flight Operations (SFO) will handle all aspects of flying operations and safety. It will be led by Guenther Matschnigg in a continuation of his current role as SVP of Safety Operations and Infrastructure.

Financial and Distribution Services (FDS) will focus on IATA’s financial services and drive the association’s distribution initiatives. It will be led by Aleksander Popovich in a continuation of his current role as SVP of Industry Distribution and Financial Services. Marketing and Commercial Services (MACS) will be the central driver of IATA’s commercial activities which support its many industry initiatives. The division will continue to be led by Mark Hubble, SVP of MACS.

IATA has also announced the appointment of Warren Jones as Head of Cargo Network Service (CNS), effective 24 April.

GERMANY – A new member of Panalpina’s Board of Directors has been proposed for election at the upcoming AGM on May 15th. Swiss-born Dr Ilias Läber is to replace Lars Förberg, who decided not to stand for re-election. Both Läber and Förberg are representatives of Cevian Capital, Panalpina’s second biggest shareholder.

SINGAPORE – Lillian Chua recently joined Menlo Worldwide Logistics South Asia as the director of Human Resources (HR). In this new role, Chua will lead the full spectrum of HR responsibilities for South Asia out of Menlo’s regional headquarters offices in Singapore.

US – American Trucking Associations (ATA) has named Jeffrey Mason to the newly created position of SVP of image and communications. Mason will be responsible for the association’s communications and image strategies as well as managing special projects and future events.

EUROPE – UK – Air Partner has announced the appointment of Richard Smith as Freight Product Director for the Group, with Mike Hill, based in the German office, supporting Smith as they seek to grow the Freight product throughout the European territories. Birte Püschel-Kipke, Director of International Offices (Europe) and Director of Air Partner International GmbH (Germany) will leave Air Partner on 31st July 2013.

UK – Port service suppliers and shipping agents, Searoute, has strengthened its customer services team with the appointment of Brian Donnelly as a Field Sales Executive, as of March 18.

UK – Dachser has added Gary Fitchett and Darren Phillips to its UK sales team based at the company’s new office in Reading. Fitchett will be responsible for central Southern England while Phillips will be responsible for the Southwest.