Deutsche Post-DHL has announced a leadership transition at the top of the company. The Supervisory Board has extended Mr. Appel’s contract for another 17 months only, in response to the executive’s wish to not serve another full term in office. As it appears, there will be a smooth transition of power, without any major battles behind the scenes. A successor has already been nominated by the controlling board.
Appel has been at the helm of the Group since 2008. Since then, he and his team have developed DPDHL into one of the strongest brands in the global transport and logistics market. This is
evidenced by a tightly meshed global network with representative offices and services in practically every country except for North Korea, by 550,000 employees, annually rising revenues and
profits, world leading positions in air and ocean freight, an extensive mail business, road and rail transports, and rounded off by a strong presence in contract logistics.
Bumpy road ahead
It is this broad service portfolio which includes a fleet of freighter aircraft, that makes DPDHL very resilient as a group, and thus less susceptible to crises. In the meantime, however,
competition is intensifying, fueled by one of its former most important customers: Amazon. Since the e-tailer has increasingly been managing its supply chain by itself, DHL Express has lost some
of its intercontinental business, as has UPS, for example. This turn in the tide is evidenced by the growing number of freighters operated by Amazon’s subsidiary, Prime Air, by local distribution
centers sprouting like mushrooms, and an increasing army of Amazon contracted couriers covering the last mile. DPDHL’s reliability and economic success are also based on the 260+ freighters
operated by DHL or in cooperation with partner airlines, accounting for more than 3,000 flights per day to 220 countries, exemplified by the Leipzig-headquartered freight carrier, AeroLogic, a
DHL Express-Lufthansa Cargo joint venture (50/50%).
The record holder
Nikolaus von Bomhard, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Post AG, acknowledged the outstanding development of DPDHL under the guidance of Frank Appel: “Frank Appel's performance
during his more than 13 years at the top of DPDHL Group, has been outstanding. He turned the company into a leading global logistics powerhouse that connects people and markets, thereby enabling
global trade. Under Appel's leadership, the company has posted one record after the next. Deutsche Post DHL Group has much to thank him for.”
Meyer takes over
His successor, Tobias Meyer, will take over as DPDHL Group CEO following Appel’s departure. Meyer joined the company in 2013 and has held a wide variety of functions including Head of Corporate
Development, Chief Operations Officer at DHL Global Forwarding, and Head of Operations and IT at Post & Parcel Germany. He has been CEO of Post & Parcel Germany and a member of the DPDHL
Management Board since March 2019.
On the occasion of the management transition announcement, Mr. Appel already praised his successor warmly: “In Tobias Meyer, we have a top-class manager and great colleague to follow as the
next DPDHL Group CEO. Under his leadership, Post & Parcel Germany successfully managed the turnaround. I couldn't have hoped for a better successor.”
Heiner Siegmund
We welcome and publish comments from all authenticated users
Write a comment