DHL Global Forwarding, the freight specialist division of DHL Group, has announced strategic leadership changes in the Asia Pacific region following the upcoming retirements of Kelvin Leung and Charles Kauffman.
Niki Frank, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Asia Pacific, remarked, “With the impending retirements of Kelvin and Charles, key positions became available, and I am pleased that we have been able to fill them from within our network. This underlines our ability to cultivate and retain talent while offering growth opportunities to our employees. Each appointee brings valuable experience and expertise to their roles, promising a fresh perspective.”
Taking the reins from Charles Kauffman as President/ Representative Director of DHL Global Forwarding, Japan is Karsten Michaelis.
After more than five decades of dedicated service to the Group, Charles Kaufmann, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding North Asia South Pacific (NASP), will transfer his responsibilities for Japan to Karsten Michaelis, his successor. Charles will continue overseeing the cluster until the year’s end.
Karsten Michaelis will officially assume his new position as President/ Representative Director of DHL Global Forwarding Japan on July 1, 2023. He will be based in Japan and report directly to Charles Kaufmann. Karsten, with over two decades of extensive experience in the logistics sector, has primarily worked in the Asia Pacific region, holding roles in Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Australia, and Singapore. Since joining the group in 2011, he has held various managerial positions for Ocean Freight in Asia Pacific, including his recent role as Senior Vice President of Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific in 2017.
Furthermore, DHL has appointed Edwin Pinto as the Managing Director of DHL Global Forwarding, India. Following Niki Frank’s advancement, Edwin Pinto, currently serving as the Head of Sales & Marketing for DHL Global Forwarding Thailand and Indochina, has been designated as the Managing Director for DHL Global Forwarding, India. He will assume his new role on September 1, 2023, reporting directly to Niki Frank. Edwin will be stationed in India.
Edwin joined DHL in India in 2001 and has since held multiple management positions across DHL Global Forwarding. With a focus on the automotive sector, he gained experience in diverse positions before becoming the Sector Director for DGF in the South Asia Pacific and Africa region in 2010. He was promoted to Head of Key Account Management for DGF India in 2012. Edwin relocated to Thailand in 2014, serving as the Director of Commercial & Customer Program Management for DGF, before undertaking his current role in 2021.
Moreover, Praveen Gregory will assume the role of Senior Vice President of Ocean Freight for DHL Global Forwarding, Asia Pacific. Praveen, presently the VP of Order Management Solutions Asia Pacific at DHL Global Forwarding, will transition to his new position as SVP of Ocean Freight for DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, effective September 1, 2023. He will be stationed in Singapore and will report directly to Niki Frank, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, with a reporting line to Casper Ellerbaek, EVP of Global Ocean Freight at DHL Global Forwarding.
Before joining DHL Group in Dubai for Ocean Freight Operations in 2008, Praveen worked for Maersk. In 2010, he relocated to Germany, occupying roles in Market Intelligence & Strategy and Product Development. His move to Hong Kong in 2018 led to regional management roles in the Ocean Commercial Center and Account Management ISC. In 2022, he took on his present role as VP of Order Management Solutions Asia Pacific.
