Zimmerman to lead Cargo 2000 change programme

Ariaen Zimmerman is the new full time executive director of Cargo 2000 (C2K), an IATA interest group established to lead the drive towards “enhanced quality throughout the air cargo industry”.  
Zimmerman is leading the group’s change programme, which will see C2K adopt a new auditing system, neutral benchmarks, and “embrace a smarter, wider approach to data analysis using smart data”.  
Said Zimmerman: “This is an exciting time for C2K as we establish the organisation’s lead role in creating and implementing quality standards for the global air cargo industry.  
“C2K is a truly collaborative platform with a vital role to play in ensuring we improve and demonstrate our commitment to quality for the entire door-to-door logistics chain.”  
Zimmerman has held senior management roles in the airfreight industry, including at Polar Air Cargo and, most recently, Saudi Airlines Cargo.
He takes over from IATA’s head of cargo e-business management, Guillaume Drucy, who also acted as C2K executive director on a part time basis.  
Zimmerman’s C2K team includes Laura Rodriguez, assistant manager, who has been working with IATA’s cargo division for two years, Sebastian Schirmers, who joined C2K as operations manager in August from DB Schenker, and Phil Sims, secretary to the board.  
A spokesperson said that the creation of a new C2K organisation is part of the change programme initiated in the past months by the C2K board and IATA’s cargo management, which also saw the adoption of the Industry Master Operating Plan (MOP) as a recommended practice by IATA’s Cargo Services Conference (CSC).  
The management team will continue to work closely with its membership board, chaired by Kuehne+Nagel’s global head of carrier and gateway air logistics Max Sauberschwarz and with the IATA Cargo standards team.
C2K recently held its membership meeting in Abu Dhabi, where it met to network and take part in workshops, including a session on rebranding C2K.  
C2K is a global not-for-profit membership group supported by IATA and including airlines, freight forwarders, ground-handling agents, trucking companies, and IT solutions providers.