Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (Hellmann) has announced an upcoming leadership change at the company in August 2024.
The German logistics services company said its Supervisory Board had appointed Jens Drewes as chief executive officer (CEO) of Hellmann, effective August 2024.
Drewes will succeed Reiner Heiken — who has been CEO of the global logistics service provider since the end of 2018 — who has decided to retire next year.
In a statement, Hellmann noted how Heiken has significantly developed the company in the past five years.
As a result, it added that Hellmann has been able to significantly expand its market position in recent years — both through organic growth and acquisitions — and to achieve another record result in 2022 with revenues of EUR 5 billion.
"In order to continue this successful corporate development in the long term, under Heiken, a new corporate culture was initiated with the Hellmann Promise," Hellmann said, adding that recently, a new corporate strategy called "4ward27" was adopted with the implementation of which to be handed over to Drewes in the middle of next year.
"Mr Heiken has succeeded in repositioning the company in recent years and setting it up strongly for the future," said Dr Thomas C. Lieb, chairman of the Supervisory Board, as the Board thanked Heiken for a "very successful work as CEO and wish him all the best for the future."
Drewes to take over as CEO in August 2024
The Supervisory Board noted that Drewes is the "ideal successor" for Heiken into the CEO role as of August 2024.
Hellmann said Drewes brings a wealth of experience in the logistics industry with a track record spanning over 30 years, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region and, lately, in Europe.
Since the late 1990s, Drewes has worked for Kuehne + Nagel, where he was most recently responsible for the European business.
"Starting in August 2024, Drewes will take on the CEO role encompassing Hellmann's five regions, HR, sales marketing, Corporate Development as well as Corporate Communications," Hellmann said in the announcement.
"We are convinced that we have found the right successor to Reiner Heiken with the appointment of Jens Drewes as CEO. With his many years of international logistics experience and his strong ability to lead teams and inspire customers, Jens Drewes will continue the successful development of the company and open up new growth areas within the scope of the "4ward27" strategy," Lieb said on behalf of the supervisory board which includes Jost and Klaus Hellmann.
Meanwhile, the announcement said as of January 1, 2024, the Management Board will be expanded to include Stefan Borggreve as Chief Digital Officer (CDO) to meet the growing demands of IT and digitalization and to reflect the company's new strategy.
"As long-standing and experienced members of the Management Board, Jens Wollesen and Martin Eberle will ensure ongoing continuity in the leadership team," the announcement said.
It noted that as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Wollesen will continue to focus on the strategic development of Hellmann's products sea-and airfreight, overland transport, and contract logistics.
The contract with Martin Eberle, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), was also renewed as scheduled for another five years.
