Eling takes the top job at Dachser

Burkhard Eling is the new chief executive at German logistics operator Dachser in several executive board changes to welcome the next generation of senior management.

Eling succeeds Bernhard Simon, who will take over as chairman of the supervisory board of the family-owned company in mid-2021. Also moving to the supervisory board with Simon is the former chief operations officer (COO) Road Logistics, Michael Schilling.

Said Eling: “My fellow board members and I are taking over an extremely robust and fast-growing company that even the challenges of the coronavirus crisis haven’t managed to throw off course. With their tremendous know-how and commitment, the people at Dachser have succeeded in maintaining the supply chains of our global customers even under adverse conditions.

“With the trust and support of the founding family, we as an executive board team, will preserve the unique, people-oriented culture of Dachser as a family-owned company. At the same time, we will continue to develop the company with sound judgment and agility on its way to becoming the world’s most integrated logistics provider.”

Eling joined Dachser in 2012 as deputy head of the finance, legal and tax executive unit. He joined the executive board as chief financial officer (CFO) the following year, since when he has been responsible for the logistics provider’s group-wide strategic idea and innovation management programme.

Dachser, which generated consolidated net revenue of approximately €5.7bn in 2019, has made further changes to the executive board which see two long-standing company managers promoted to the logistics provider’s operational management body.

Stefan Hohm becomes chief development officer (CDO) and Alexander Tonn as COO Road Logistics.

They are joined on the executive board by Robert Erni, who has taken up the role of chief financial officer (CFO) after a four-month induction and transition phase. Before joining Dachser, Erni was Group CFO at logistics provider Panalpina for nearly seven years.

The five-man executive board team is completed by Edoardo Podestà, who has been COO Air and Sea Logistics since October 2019.

Tonn is a new member of Dachser’s executive board and will be responsible for the European overland transport networks for industrial goods and food. In addition, he will continue to lead the European Logistics Germany business unit.

Tonn has been with the company for over 20 years, having held managerial positions including at company headquarters, where he was responsible for the logistics provider’s global contract logistics business for several years.

Hohm, who has been working for Dachser for 27 years, will head the newly created IT & Development executive unit.

Most recently, he was corporate director for the logistics provider’s research and development work as well as its Corporate Solutions business. Besides the further development of IT, he is now also responsible for worldwide contract logistics.

There are no changes to Dachser’s air and sea freight business, which has been led by Edoardo Podestà since October 2019.

Based in Hong Kong, Podestà became managing director of Dachser’s air and sea freight business in the Asia Pacific business unit in 2014. He joined the company in 2003 when it acquired the joint venture Züst Ambrosetti Far East Ltd.