DHL Supply Chain has appointed Andries Retief as chief executive officer for its South East Asia cluster, covering Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia as the region is poised for continues growth.

In the announcement, DHL said Retief would report directly to Terry Ryan, CEO DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.

Prior to this new appointment, Retief was CEO of DHL Supply Chain Central & Eastern Europe, based in Poland.

DHL noted that his leadership saw double-digit growth for three consecutive years in revenue and profitability.

"Andries [Retief] has shown exceptional leadership and brings a unique perspective, having worked across Europe and Africa, where he drove transformational change in the markets he led. He has successfully navigated the organization during a global pandemic compounded with geopolitical issues. I am confident that his international experience and steady leadership make him the perfect choice for this regional role," Ryan said.

Retief's career span 18 years across two continents — starting in 2009 as a financial manager in South Africa at DHL Supply Chain.

Southeast Asia: among the fastest-growing regions

In 2016, he became the managing director of DHL Supply Chain East Africa before assuming his position as CEO DHL Supply Chain, Central & Eastern Europe, in 2019.

"South East Asia is among the fastest-growing regions in the world with a strong and diverse talent pool. I am excited to work closely with our customers to leverage our strengths in technology, e-commerce fulfillment network, and life science sectors while building new capabilities and expanding into other sectors," said Retief said.

"I am also eager to further our agenda in diversity and inclusion, providing our employees with a good experience as we grow together, guided by our culture of respect and results," the new CEO for DHL Supply Chain's South East Asia cluster added.