Effective 15 July, Anand Kulkarni will assume the newly created position of Head of Global Markets at Lufthansa Cargo. In this role, he will lead and manage the sales regions and the Digital Sales department of Lufthansa Cargo. This includes the regions Germany, Austria & Switzerland, Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia & CIS, Americas and Asia Pacific. In his role, Kulkarni will report to Ashwin Bhat, CEO Lufthansa Cargo.
With 25 years of experience in the logistics industry, Anand Kulkarni brings a truly global leadership perspective to the role of Head of Global Markets at Lufthansa Cargo. Prior to joining Lufthansa Cargo, Kulkarni was Head of Global Expansion at General Logistics Systems (GLS Group), where he developed and implemented the global growth strategy. Prior to that, he spent 15 years with DHL in various management positions in Asia Pacific and EMEA. His responsibilities included leading regional Pricing & Profitability and global Sales Steering & Performance Management for DHL’s top 100 strategic customers. He was also part of DHL’s Global Aviation Strategy project which led to the creation of AeroLogic. He also worked in the US for a management consulting firm specializing in aviation strategy and finance. During his career, he has worked with the full spectrum of the aviation value chain – airframe manufacturers, leasing companies, airlines, financial and legal firms, and regulatory authorities. Anand Kulkarni holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the London Business School, UK, and a Master’s degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of Connecticut, USA.
DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, a specialist in temperature-controlled active packaging solutions, proudly announces the appointment of Rory Ward as the new Business Development Manager for the Midwest Region in the US. Rory Ward brings over a decade of experience in the logistics industry, most recently working as the Operations & Sales Manager at Airport Logistic Services Group.
In his new role, Rory Ward will focus on expanding DoKaSch TS’s presence in the US. The pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, particularly in the Midwest region, are experiencing significant growth. Illinois aims to enhance its reputation as a key hub for biomedical research, with Chicago leading the initiative due to its dense concentration of biotech and pharma firms. Contributing to this dynamic growth is Chicago O’Hare Airport, which significantly boosts the region’s economic dynamics by handling approximately 2.2 million metric tons of cargo in 2022, making it a pivotal cargo hub in the United States.
“DoKaSch Temperature Solutions’ Opticooler® provides high-quality and reliable temperature-controlled packaging solutions,” says Rory Ward. “I see significant business opportunities in the Midwest Region and am excited to expand the DoKaSch TS network.”
“Rory Ward, a Chicago native, has an in-depth understanding of the Midwest Region market. He is an excellent contact for customers seeking to transport their temperature-sensitive products with our Opticooler®,” says Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions. “With Rory Ward as the new Business Development Manager, DoKaSch Temperature Solutions is strengthening its global network and enhancing its engagement in the US pharma market.”
Recognizing the importance of the US pharmaceutical market, which generated over 630 billion US dollars in sales in 2022 and stands as the largest in the world, DoKaSch Temperature Solutions has strategically positioned itself in the region. Since 2018, the company has operated its subsidiary, DoKaSch Americas Inc., in California. Both the RKN and RAP versions of the Opticooler® are FAA-certified, enabling any US airline to have these containers technically certified and validated.
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT), a leading provider of software solutions to the air cargo industry, has appointed Joe Hickey as its new Global Business Development Manager.
Hickey will drive HLT’s global sales strategy, help expand its reach, and maximise growth opportunities for the logistics technology business and its customers.
“We are pleased to welcome Joe Hickey to the HLT team. His proven track record in new business generation, combined with his expertise in the SaaS market and logistics industry, make him the ideal candidate to drive our global business development efforts,” said Yuval Baruch, CEO of Hermes Logistics Technologies.
“We have invested heavily in developing our product ecosystem over the past 24 months, and our expanded range of solutions can drive real business benefits for our customers.”
With an extensive sales and business development background, Joe brings over a decade of experience working with enterprise clients across various sectors, including logistics, supply chain, travel and hospitality, education, automotive, and financial services.
“I am excited to join Hermes Logistics Technologies at such a pivotal time. There is immense potential to extend HLT’s market presence, and with an enhanced focus on business development, I am confident we can continue to achieve significant success. I look forward to leveraging my experience in logistics and SaaS to drive HLT’s growth,” said Hickey.
Before joining HLT, Joe served as Sales Director at Ratio, where he successfully built a sales function and team from the ground up, expanding the company’s SaaS market reach and product offerings.
Joe’s previous roles include Move Mee, Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International, and IMSM, where he was responsible for international markets and driving business growth across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Dyspach, an innovative new Australian technology start-up, has proudly marked a significant milestone in its vision to transform freight pricing through easy-to-use and artificially intelligent technology, with the appointment of seasoned logistics expert, Dominic Culbert.
Culbert joins Dyspach in the newly created role of Head of Growth Australia and New Zealand, bringing an impressive track record of phenomenal logistics growth for the leading Australian multi-carrier shipping software company, Shippit.
It was Culbert’s strategic vision and leadership that were instrumental in transforming Shippit into a multi-million-dollar global success story over his seven-year tenure. Prior to Shippit, Culbert led logistics at MySale Group for five years, carving out an over two-decade career in logistics and distribution.
Now as part of the senior leadership team at Dyspach, Culbert believes the start-up firmly positioned to make a strong contribution to revolutionising the freight industry, through its unique purpose-built logistics software. It is Dyspach’s intuitive software focused on maximising pricing efficiency through AI powered CRM that is set to overcome many of the challenges Culbert says, has long impeded growth within the freight industry.
“Like most other industries that have had to quickly adapt and mature, the freight industry has developed growing pains that we are still trying to address today. The challenge has been to identify the ones having the most impact in terms of inhibiting growth. This is where the Dyspach team has delivered the right mindset, the right system, and the right timing to make significant improvements in this space,” explains Culbert.
It was this opportunity to be a part of a technology-led transformation of the industry that attracted Culbert to the role, as well as the software focus on improving efficiencies on the pricing front – an area Culbert says sets the technology apart from any other solution currently on the market.
“Price comes into the equation for nearly every decision a logistics supplier or shipper makes and is one of the cornerstone principles within a logistician’s ideology. There are very few systems in the market that address the inefficiencies in pricing and for high volume B2C ecommerce networks.”
He continues, “Dyspach is not another system that was initially built for other industries but was repurposed. What Dyspach brings to the table is a purpose-built system that has its architecture and design all developed from a freight and logistics lens. Then when harnessing AI to identify trends and solve complex equations, it becomes a very powerful system that gives users all the tools they need to create a competitive edge.”
Dyspach co-founders, Pushpinder Bagga and Amit Kumar believe Culbert’s strategic foresight and unparalleled peptise will add synergy to their team’s credentials across logistics, technology, and commercialisation. The appointment is timed as Dyspach prepares to expand into the US market later this year.
Charles Szar has been appointed as president of global cargo airline AeroTransCargo (ATC) and will lead the company’s development strategy.
He brings over 30 years of commercial, civil aviation and military aviation/aerospace experience to AeroTransCargo from previous jobs in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Prior to joining AeroTransCargo, he spent four years as chief executive of aviation solutions provider Sky One in the UAE.
His career experience also spans more than 20 years in the US Air Force and Army as well as that gained during roles with United Technologies and Hilti, and during his near three years as director of customer engagement with TWI, a training and coaching company based in Dubai.
In his new post, he is based in Sharjah, UAE. He will work closely with Air One Aviation, AeroTransCargo’s exclusive GSA.
Since its formation as a charter and leasing cargo airline in 2014, Moldova-based AeroTransCargo has provided international transportation services for shippers, freight forwarders, logistics providers and charter brokers.
In the last 12 months, the airline’s fleet of five Boeing 747-400 freighters have successfully operated more than 2,500 flights carrying more than 122m kilos of cargo.
“I am delighted to welcome Charles to AeroTransCargo. He has an outstanding blend of career experience that will align perfectly with the expertise we already have within ATC. This combination will ensure we continue to deliver the operational quality our customers expect and inspire fresh thinking as we look to grow our commercial operations,” said Guneet Mirchandani, ATC’s chairman.
“With the calibre of the ATC team and our dedicated partners, we have an exciting future ahead of us. Our ambition and ability to grow align perfectly with the new opportunities presented by our customers. The success of our journey hinges on the incredible people we work with,” Szar added.
Global air charter specialists Chapman Freeborn has made two key appointments to lead its music and entertainment vertical team following a major investment in its global network strategy.
Paul Kindred, Senior Business Development Manager – Music & Entertainment, brings more than three decades of experience in developing the music and entertainment businesses including Premier Aviation UK Ltd and Air Partner, as well as 25 years working at major record companies, including 10 years working at Sony Music Entertainment.
He is to lead the team alongside Chloe Phelps, who has been newly appointed Team Leader – Music and Entertainment – with both individuals based out of the company’s London Gatwick Airport headquarters.
“Chapman Freeborn has been chartering aircraft for the music industry since 1973, impressively coordinating major music tours, festivals, and one-off concerts for household names, right from the start,” said Kindred.
“Chapman’s music and entertainment division is supported by experienced teams strategically located in all corners of the globe, that have deep inside knowledge of local and regional markets and are therefore able to offer better, more tailored solutions to clients, no matter their need or location.”
Meanwhile, Phelps originally joined Chapman Freeborn in 2018 as part of the Tour Support Team. Her reassignment means she will be managing chartering services for music tours as well as nurturing and strengthening client relationships.
“Chapman Freeborn has an extensive global network which allows us to offer a bespoke, on-demand service for clients no matter the requirements and despite it being such a high-pressured, high-profile, fast-paced industry,” said Phelps.
“Central to my role will be looking out for promising up-and-coming artists, thereby ensuring our client roster stays ahead of the curve as our music and entertainment vertical plays an even bigger role to our ongoing global growth strategy.”
Chapman Freeborn has made several appointments throughout the European Union to strengthen its presence on the ground to meet the increasing number of live events since the music and entertainment industry recovers post-COVID.
US Part 135 cargo airline Ameriflight has appointed Patrick Fluegeman as president and chief operating officer.
Fluegeman will be responsible for planning and executing current and future business operation strategies focusing on the regional express airfreight market.
Most recently, he spent seven years with ABX Air, a US cargo airline operating a fleet of Boeing 767 freighters for customers in the e-commerce and express delivery markets. He held a number of operation leadership roles, ending his time there as chief operating officer.
Notably, he successfully added aircraft to ABX Air’s fleet, expanded the company’s operations in Europe and South America, implemented new operating systems, and secured a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with the ABX pilot group.
Prior to his time at ABX, he held a number of finance leadership roles with the cargo airline Southern Air (now part of Atlas Air) and with the financial services firm Deloitte.
“The board and I are confident that Patrick will be a great fit for building on Ameriflight’s momentum,” said Ameriflight owner and chairman Jim Martell.
“He is a well-established leader with an extensive background in the aviation industry that includes a unique blend of airline operations, corporate strategy, finance, and business development. We are pleased to have him on board.”
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to join such a long-standing, industry-leading company,” said Fluegeman. “As I have gotten to know the team, it has become clear to me that Ameriflight operates with purpose and is passionate about its mission of Delivering More Than Cargo.
“As President, my intention is to continue Ameriflight’s vision and its commitment to building a diversified aviation services platform, by focusing on safety, first and foremost, as well as customer service, new business growth, and our people.”
Cargo iQ has elected a new Board this week, as the organisation prepares to launch two major new initiatives to drive up membership engagement and welcome a new Executive Director next month.
Two Board members are completely new to the post, including Fanny Chan, Head of Cargo Global Operations at Cathay Pacific Airways; and Olaf Hagelstein, SVP, Global Head of Operations, Processes & Systems – Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding.
They join Hendrik Leyssens, VP Process, Planning and Project Delivery, Emirates; Jussi Lemola, Vice President, Global Operations – Cargo, Swissport; Rutger-Jan Pegels (RJ), Director Performance Management, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo; and Klaas Kurz, Director Aviation Security & Governance, Schenker AG, who were all re-elected to their posts. Pegels also serves as Vice Chair of Cargo iQ.
“These individuals bring with them a wealth of knowledge and valuable expertise that will help steer and advise our organisation during a year of exciting changes,” said Lothar Moehle, outgoing Cargo iQ Executive Director.
“Their appointments come as we prepare to launch two major initiatives that will result in enhanced cooperation and collaboration across the air cargo chain, and with our new Executive Director Marie Seco-Köppen driving implementation.”
The new Board was formally welcomed to their new posts at Cargo iQ’s Working Group meeting, which is taking place this week in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Cargo iQ Board is made up of 11 voting members, including representatives from Air France KLM Martinair, Cargomind (Austria), Cathay Pacific, DB Schenker, DHL Global Forwarding, Emirates SkyCargo, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo and Swissport International, supported by observers Riege Software, FIATA, and ASA, and advisor Im3Pact AG.
Marie Seco-Köppen, co-founder of Im3pact and currently Chair of the Cargo iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP) Working Group, is to replace Lothar Moehle as Cargo iQ Executive Director in May.
The new initiatives Cargo iQ plans to roll out include a Tiered Membership program that awards members Bronze, Silver, or Gold membership, according to their level of implementation and their conformance to reporting.
A new scorecard system is also to launch, which will be open to both members and non-members alike, enabling them to measure their own, and their partners’ performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) derived from Master Operating Plan (MOP) milestones and data exchange between parties.
Both initiatives are currently being piloted by the Cargo iQ Board and are expected to go live later this year.
Cargo iQ has over 60 members and is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder, supply-chain community that continuously improves the air cargo customer experience.
DB Schenker has appointed Aaron Scott as chief executive of its UK & Ireland business, replacing Ray Hennessy who is retiring after eight years in the role.
Scott joined the company in 2021 and additionally holds the position of executive vice president of contract logistics for region Europe.
“He brings a wealth of experience to the UK & Ireland chief executive role having spent more than 28 years in International Logistics and 3PL supply chain operations,” the forwarder said.
“Additionally, he has spent time living and working in the Netherlands, the US and Germany and has a strong track record of accomplishment in leading and directing operational and cross-functional teams to deliver commercial value and service excellence alongside new business growth.”
“I’m committed to ensuring a seamless transition and continuing the strong culture of passion, energy, and the customer-centric focus that exists across the cluster,” said Scott. “We have a team of great people in our business and it’s important that we remain focused on taking our customers further by delivering the highest standards of quality and service.
“We have been working hard to modernise practices and ensure our business is fit for the future, to fully support current and future customer needs.”
Scott reports to Helmut Schweighofer, chief executive of region Europe.
Global aviation services group and charter specialist Air Partner has appointed Oliver Giesen as head of onboard courier (OBC) – global.
Giesen will be responsible for identifying opportunities to drive the growth of Air Partner’s OBC division, focusing on the aerospace, automotive, fashion and pharmaceutical industries.
He will be based in his home country of Germany, which is a prominent manufacturing hub in Europe and conveniently located for US- and Asia-bound delivery services.
Giesen’s appointment is part of Air Partner’s investment in the growth of OBC delivery to enhance its time-critical services.
Pierre Van Der Stichele, vice president of global charter, said: “There are huge untapped opportunities for OBC services to fulfil, from high net-worth individuals and fashion houses to financial institutions and car manufacturers.
“Door-to-door OBC services are of growing importance to those for whom safe and urgent delivery, by hand, of items is critical, such as sensitive documents, parts for cars to meet manufacturing deadlines, and last-minute additions to the catwalk at global fashion shows.
“Oliver brings a wealth of industry experience to Air Partner with an extensive background spanning logistics, supply chain visibility and operations. With over a decade’s experience in roles at NEO Air Charter GmbH and Chapman Freeborn Airchartering, Oliver refined his expertise in logistics operations and business development. After delving into supply chain visibility for over two years, Oliver now returns to logistics, leading Air Partner’s OBC division.”
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