Top management shake-up at Schenker

Schenker, the logistics business of Deutsche Bahn, is re-organising and streamlining its management board.

From 1st January, it is consolidating the Air and Ocean Freight and Land Transport Board Divisions to create a new division named Freight (COO), which will be headed by Ewald Kaiser, currently member of the management board for Land Transport. The aim is to tie these three product areas closer together to quickly improve integrated transport products and services and make better use of growth potential.

There will be a new division called Commercial DB Schenker (CCO) and Contract Logistics, headed by Tom Schmitt, will be created. The aim is “hard-wire” key account management/sales and marketing will be hardwired at the management board level.

“By reducing the number of members on the management board from seven to six and reorganising the board divisions, we intend to satisfy market requirements for fast and consistent solutions for our customers and to serve as a role model for creating more efficient structures”, said group chief executive Jochen Thewes.

Reiner Heiken has taken over as chief executive of the European region, replacing Ewald Kaiser in this function. Heiken served most recently as chairman of the Management Board at Kühne & Nagel in Hamburg.