DB Schenker reorganises freight and logistics and appoints Reiner Heiken as Europe chief executive

DB Schenker has overhauled the management structure of its logistics operations, with the appointment of Reiner Heiken as its new chief executive for Europe, the formation of a contract logistics division and the consolidation of its air, land and sea boards.

Mr Heiken was recruited from Kuehne & Nagel, where he served as chairman in Hamburg, and replaced Ewald Kaiser on 1 December.

In a near 20-year career with KN, Mr Heiken served in various functions. He is a shipping industry veteran, having also served in various management roles at Senator Lines, which he joined in the late-80s after a six-month stint as a nautical officer at Reederei H Janssen.

On 1 January, Mr Kaiser will join the new Freight board, comprising the previous separate air, land and sea divisions.

As part of the changes, the board will also be reduced from seven to six, with the aim of improving integrated transport product services. A new organisational unit, Global Land Transport, will standardise and promote the development of land transport outside Europe.

“By reducing the number of members on the management board and reorganising 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 Jochen Thewes, chief executive of DB Schenker.

In addition, a new division called Commercial DB Schenker and Contract Logistics (CCO), headed by Tom Schmitt, will be created.

Mr Schmitt joined Schenker as board member responsible for contract logistics last April from AquaTerra – a Canadian firm specialising in bottled water for coolers – where he served as its president and chief executive.