Washington/London/Brussels/Singapore: The World Shipping Council (WSC) Board of Directors has elected Soren Toft, CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, as the new Chair of the World Shipping Council Board. Randy Chen, Vice Chairman of Wan Hai Lines, has been elected Vice Chair.
Soren Toft and Randy Chen will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. The new Chair and Vice Chair succeed Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG, and Jeremy Nixon, CEO of ONE, who have served as co-Chairs of the WSC Board for two terms, starting November 2020.
WSC President and CEO Joe Kramek highlights the extensive expertise that Soren Toft and Randy Chen will bring, and their contributions to the global shipping industry.
“I am looking forward to working with Soren Toft and Randy Chen in their new roles. Both are esteemed leaders with a proven track record of driving innovation and sustainability in the global shipping industry. Their experience and expertise will be instrumental in continuing to develop the World Shipping Council as the united voice of liner shipping,” said Kramek.
Commenting on his new role, Soren Toft, CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company: “It is an honor to step into the role of Chair for the World Shipping Council and to represent the global liner shipping industry alongside our members. WSC is today a respected voice of liner shipping, engaging with governments and organizations globally.”
“An ever-changing world presents both challenges and opportunities for our industry as we head into the future, and I am eager to further advance our work to shape the future growth of a socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, safe and secure shipping industry,” he added.
London, UK: NeX e-Commerce has welcomed Mandy Deakin-Snell as the new Head of Global Academy Program.
With decades of leadership experience and a proven track record in the e-Commerce and logistics industries, Mandy is set to drive innovation and growth within NeX’s Academy business unit, shaping the future of cross-border e-Commerce education.
Mandy’s career spans some of the most influential roles in logistics, including General Management at TNT, Director of International Operations at DPD, International Managing Director at the Geopost Group, and her more recent role as Founder and CEO of MDS Alignment – coaching and consulting supply chain professionals. Her deep industry knowledge, paired with her exceptional ability to guide and inspire, makes her the ideal leader to propel the NeX Academy to new heights.
Mandy’s addition to NeX e-Commerce marks a significant milestone in its journey to becoming the go-to hub for innovation, education, and leadership in the e-Commerce and logistics sectors.
CEO Justus Klüver-Schlotfeldt commented, “I am beyond excited to welcome Mandy to the team. Her unparalleled expertise, leadership skills, and talent for nurturing growth make her the perfect fit for this role. Mandy’s vision and mentorship will undoubtedly inspire both our team and program participants as we push the boundaries of what’s possible in cross-border logistics.”
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Airbus has appointed Eid Al Qahtani as Airbus President for the new Regional Headquarters in Riyadh, underlining the company’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the wider region.
Airbus’ Regional Headquarters located in Riyadh represents an expansion of the company’s commercial, defense, space and helicopter businesses in the KSA and beyond. Since the 1970s Airbus has significantly grown its presence in the KSA, continuously increasing its contribution to the Kingdom’s aviation and aerospace sector.
Currently, Airbus employs more than 350 people in the KSA, 30% of which are Saudi nationals and the remainder represented by over 30 nationalities.
Al Qahtani will focus on strengthening partnerships with governments and stakeholders while driving new business in the region. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, including as Head of Operations for Airbus Helicopters in Riyadh, Al Qahtani brings a deep industrial expertise to the position.
Wouter Van Wersch, President Airbus International, commented: “We are privileged to see Eid Al Qahtani leading our operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as President for Airbus from our new Regional Headquarters in Riyadh. Al Qahtani brings valuable insights to the country’s ambitious goals and he understands the importance of local talent development. His proven track record in successfully leading projects in the region makes him a perfect fit for this role.”
Al Qahtani added: “I am honored to be leading Airbus from our new Riyadh Headquarters and look forward to further consolidating Airbus’ presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is a most strategic market for us. Our aim is to continue supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term goals, whilst inspiring the next generation of Saudi leaders in the aerospace sector.”
In January 2024, Airbus signed an Industrial Participation (IP) agreement with the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) to support the growth of the industrial ecosystem in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy.
This agreement includes the transfer of technology and expertise to local companies, such as SAAMS (SAMI Airbus Aircraft Maintenance Services), the joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Airbus, which serves as the key driver for industrial localization in the KSA.
Le Havre, France: Seafrigo Group, a global leader in specialist cool-chain food logistics, has appointed Bruno Plantaz as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, tasked to steer its global operations and structuring the organization to implement its long-term growth strategy.
Company founder Eric Barbé steps up to the role of President and will work alongside Bruno as they deliver the next stage in the Group’s global growth plan.
Bruno brings over two decades of international expertise in freight forwarding and contract logistics to his new role, having previously held senior management positions in Europe, the Middle East and Asia at CEVA Logistics and Kuehne & Nagel.
“This company is a sparkling diamond and now it needs to be polished to shine even brighter. It’s highly customer centric and its entrepreneurial spirit is exceptional; now we need to grow and expand its services to even more countries around the world. We have a President whose business development skills are extraordinary and I am delighted to be here to work alongside him and the team he has built over the last 40 years,” said Bruno.
The stage has already been set for the upcoming international expansion of Seafrigo’s refrigerated services to new markets in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia with a number of announcements planned for the coming months.
London, UK: Chapman Freeborn has appointed Linas Dovydenas, President, India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) as it continues to expand its presence in the region.
Dovydenas previously spent 16 years at Chapman Freeborn’s parent company, Avia Solutions Group, in both Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer roles before joining the charter broker in 2022.
“From 2007 until 2023 Linas played an integral part in almost all of Avia Solutions Group’s group companies’ development and geographical expansion, so he is exceptionally placed to step into the role of President, IMEA, at Chapman Freeborn and turn his attention to accelerating our growth in the region,” said Eric Erbacher, Group CEO, Chapman Freeborn.
Prior to the appointment, Dovydenas was Executive VP, ACMI Leasing, Chapman Freeborn.
“I look forward to working with the IMEA team and driving growth throughout the region,” said Dovydenas. “Chapman Freeborn is an exceptional company, and it will be a privilege to oversee further expansion at such an exciting time in the industry.”
Earlier this month Chapman Freeborn appointed Bernardo Nunes, Chief Operating Officer, Chapman Freeborn Group.
Bonn/Bahrain: DHL Express has appointed Abdulaziz Busbate as the new Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express MENA (Middle East and North Africa), effective January 1, 2025, succeedomh Nour Suliman who recently stepped into a non-executive advisory role within DHL Group as President MENA.
Busbate will be based in Bahrain and will report directly to John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, who said:
“We are excited to welcome Abdulaziz Busbate to this pivotal role. His extensive experience, proven track record, and deep understanding of the region will be invaluable as we continue to drive growth and innovation in the Middle East and North Africa market, which continues to be a strategically important market for our customers and a source of talented, motivated employees for our global organization.”
Bringing 24 years of management experience at DHL Express to the role, Busbate began his
journey in Saudi Arabia, leading various commercial teams and contributing significantly to the
organization’s profitable growth.
In 2014, Busbate transferred to Bahrain as Country Manager, where he focused on service improvement and commercial development. In 2021, he returned to Saudi Arabia as Managing Director, successfully driving forward the company’s strategy, including significant enhancements to service quality, investments in infrastructure and capacity, and development of the local workforce.
Bustabe said he’s honored to lead DHL Express and its dynamic team, saying, “My focus will remain on expanding DHL’s leadership position in the Middle East and North Africa, enabling growth and delivering exceptional service to our customers. We will continue to invest in making DHL a Great Place to Work for our people and a pioneer of sustainable logistics, delivering a positive contribution to the communities
we serve.”
Abu Dhabi, UAE: RoyalJet, the premium private jet operator, is poised to continue to build on the business success it has achieved over the last two decades with the entry of a new shareholder and the appointment of seasoned aviation industry executive Shafiul Syed as its new Chief Executive. His focus will be on safety, customer service and strategy development.
“Top of the list is safety. As a premium private jet operator, this is our ultimate responsibility and service towards our guest,” Syed explained. “And because we deal with very high profile VVIP customers, not only should we deliver and meet expectations in service but continue to reinvent and expand through new frontiers.”
Syed explained further “Impeccable safety standards and excellent customer service underpin our daily operations, and we need to continue to evolve and grow with the environment, into the future. With a new composition of Board of Directors, we are poised to trail blaze, whilst growing the business, exploring new geographies and segments. These steps come within the framework of our efforts to build and enhance the success of our distinctive brand, Royal Jet, and consolidate our leading position in
the market.”
Mohammed Husain Ahmed, who previously held the post of RoyalJet CEO and has now taken on the role of the Advisor to the Chairman, said: “I am truly excited to welcome Shaf to the Royal Jet family on behalf of the Chairman. The years of experience he has had in the aviation industry truly speak volumes about his leadership and business acumen. This, I believe will drive Royal Jet to even greater heights and
help realize the brand’s aspirations to spread its wings further across key markets. I
wish him all the best.”
Syed comes with more than 30 years of aviation management experience, across many departments and functions. He has led major brand organisations through tough business and culture change with his inspired and passionate leadership, as well as an uncompromising commitment to safety, strategy and the customer as key success factors.
Syed has worked across various locations in the world, specialising in starting-up new airlines, turning them around, or providing strategic management. Under his leadership, Aero FlightOps UK Ltd received one of the first Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to be awarded by the UK CAA post Brexit. In Nigeria, Atlantic Aviation Ltd. secured an AOC to compete against other helicopter operators. And, during his stints with Coastal (Tanzania & East Africa), Heliconia (Morocco & Northwest Africa) and Aero Contractors (Nigeria & West Africa), company brands were driven back to world class safety and
operational standards leading to commercial profitability.
At the start of his career, Syed had an 18-year distinguished profile at British Airways starting off as an undergraduate engineer, Boeing 747-400 Line Maintenance Engineer, Production Controller to BA Engineering’s Landing Gear overhaul facility, Operations Scheduler, Customer Services Manager, Brand Marketing Executive through to Sales Manager and culminating as General Manager for BA’s entire operations in North & West Africa.
Syed studied Air Transport Engineering at the City University (London, UK) and Business Administration at Henley Business School. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS).
KUWAIT: United Projects for Aviation Company, a commercial real estate and facilities management company, announced that Eng. Hamad Malallah has been named as its new CEO, effective 01 January 2025.
Malallah succeeds Nadia Akil, who served as UPAC CEO from 2012 until her recent appointment as CEO of Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi, UAE. UPAC co-developed Reem Mall in partnership with Agility Global and National Real Estate Holding Company (NREC).
Prior to his appointment, Malallah was VP of Operations for UPAC. Since 2013, he led a team responsible for managing over 24,000 SQM of commercial real estate at Kuwait International Airport, including parking, maintenance, and related facilities within Terminal 1, Terminal 4, Terminal 3 (Sheikh Saad Terminal) and Discovery Mall. Prior to joining UPAC, Malallah held various senior positions with the Agility group, including as Director of the Transport Department.
Malallah’s appointment comes shortly after UPAC announced the signing of a 17-year agreement with Kuwait’s Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) to operate Al Messilah Beach, a new, 70,000+ SQM multi-use beachfront leisure and entertainment destination.
Under the agreement, UPAC will manage and operate the facility, handling all components from leasing, facility management, and overall project operations. Al Messilah Beach was recently redeveloped by TEC and is set to become a landmark attraction and a ‘must visit’ lifestyle and community destination that enhances the tourism offering in Kuwait.
Beijing, China: Chapman Freeborn has appointed Allen Liu President of its newly expanded operations across Greater China.
Since joining Chapman Freeborn in 2012, Liu has held several roles, including Senior Cargo Manager for China and Vice President of Cargo for North Asia, during which he established new regional offices in Southern and Southwestern China.
“For more than 20 years, Chapman Freeborn has been making steady progress in the vibrant Chinese market with six offices in major cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu and Hong Kong,” said Allen Liu, President – Greater China, Chapman Freeborn. “I look forward to leading our team in China and leveraging the Group’s more than 50 years of experience to continually innovate our services and strengthen Chapman Freeborn’s competitive position in China.”
Liu will oversee all freight operations in the region as part of Chapman Freeborn’s long-term strategy to deepen its commitment to the Chinese market.
Frankfurt, Germany: Dietmar Focke, Chief Operations Officer at Lufthansa Cargo, will leave the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG on October 31, 2024 and become Managing Director at Lufthansa Industry Solutions, the service company for IT consulting and system integration within the Lufthansa Group.
The 51-year-old engineering graduate has headed the Operations division since March 1, 2022,
responsible for Global Handling Management, Flight Operations, Security and most of Lufthansa Cargo’s equity investments.
“With his extensive experience in aviation and logistics as well as the management of large business units, Dietmar Focke has continued to lead Lufthansa Cargo into the future as part of the Executive Board team and has made a significant contribution to the further development and modernization of Lufthansa Cargo,” said Dr. Michael Niggemann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Lufthansa Group.
Dietmar Focke began his career in 2001 as a product engineer at Lufthansa Technik. His major milestones in recent years have included the continuation of the comprehensive LCC Evolution infrastructure program, which includes the further development and renewal of the logistics center at the home hub in Frankfurt. He was also responsible for the successful expansion of the A321 freighter fleet to four A321 freighters.
In the last 12 months, he has been instrumental in the successful development of an e-commerce product for Lufthansa Cargo. Finally, he will set the course for improved quality at Lufthansa Cargo during his remaining term of office.
Oliver von Götz has been appointed Head of Global Fulfillment Management of Lufthansa Cargo in Frankfurt since 01 September 2024.
He is responsible for global warehouse handling, the further development and management of the production system as well as customer service at the cargo airline and is the contact person for the responsible authorities.
With 13 years of experience in the aviation industry in the areas of network management, strategy and sales, Oliver von Götz can draw on a wealth of experience. Before joining Lufthansa Cargo, he was Head of Corporate Airline Strategy and Business Development Lufthansa Airlines within the Lufthansa Group.
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