MULTI-MODAL freight forwarder and logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel has announced a restructuring of management responsibilities in a move overseas commentators see as more closely mirroring competitors such as DSV.
The Board of Directors of Kuehne+Nagel International AG announced yesterday [8 April] it has approved a new direct reporting model for its country groups, setting “the course for further efficiency gains and profitable growth”.
By simplifying responsibilities, the new structure will enable Kuehne+Nagel’s business and functional units to sharpen their strategy in line with rapidly changing market developments and implement business decisions even faster. It will also ensure greater global consistency as well as customer proximity, the Swiss-headquartered company said.
The historically-evolved regional structure will be discontinued and responsibilities integrated into Kuehne+Nagel’s Group functions, as appropriate. The Cluster and National Managers will report directly into the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel International AG.
Dr. Joerg Wolle, chairman of Kuehne+Nagel International AG, commented: “With the discontinuation of the regional management levels, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is streamlining its organisational structure and creating the conditions for further efficiency gains, to be able to act even faster and more flexibly in an increasingly dynamic global trade environment.”
Separately, last month Kuehne+Nagel struck an agreement to acquire City Zone Express, a subsidiary of Chasen Holdings Ltd., a Singapore Exchange Mainboard-listed company. Headquartered in Malaysia and established in 2006, City Zone Express has over 500 employees and operates in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. The acquisition of City Zone Express would be immediately earnings-accretive and strategically enhance Kuehne+Nagel’s cross-border road logistics service offerings in Asia, the company said.
