DHL Global Forwarding has appointed Skerry Palanga as its country manager in Papua New Guinea.

Palanga will lead and manage DHL’s operations in the country and will be responsible for driving its business growth. He will be based in Port Moresby and will report to Tony Boll, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding South Pacific.

“I am excited to lead the charge in nurturing our business in Papua New Guinea – a market that presents tremendous opportunities,” Palanga said. “I believe that my keen appreciation of the local culture and business practices will be a strong asset in guiding DHL’s growth in the country. Our biggest achievements are ahead of us – and I look forward to delivering the highest standards of excellence to our customers, with the support of a talented and committed team.”

Palanga was most recently the national operations manager where he played a key role in the setup and transportation of telecommunication equipment for the first mobile network in Papua New Guinea. He managed the entire logistics solution which covered numerous sites across the country.

“We are delighted to welcome Skerry onboard as we further our growth momentum in Papua New Guinea,” said Boll. “We have every confidence that Skerry will continue to drive great business outcomes – supported by his extensive industry experience and in-depth knowledge of the local business culture. We look forward to achieving new and greater heights in this market, as we continue to capitalize on rich growth opportunities within the South Pacific region.”

Palanga has over 16 years of industry experience across various roles within the logistics industry. He was previously air freight supervisor and air freight export manager at DHL, and started his career with Danzas AEI in 2001.

“A veteran freight forwarding professional, Skerry has built a wealth of experience and first-hand knowledge of day-to-day operations – having risen through the ranks in DHL over the last 14 years,” said Kelvin Leung, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific. “His appointment to this new role is a valuable addition to DHL, as we continue to expand our footprint in Asia Pacific. With his strong knowledge of the country, I’m confident that Skerry will bring with him the agility and flexibility needed to help us realize this market’s full potential, amid the anticipated growth in freight volumes.”