The 01JAN24 saw Tobias Burger become COO Air and Sea at logistics heavyweight, Dachser, and Roman Mueller assume the role of its Managing Director of the Asia Pacific Region. Both executives are tasked with driving the agent’s growth in East Asia and worldwide. In the Far East, the company’s emphasis is on pushing its China+1 strategy forward, confirmed leading manager to CargoForwarder Global.
Mr. Burger succeeds Edoardo Podestà, who retired after serving Dachser for more than 20 years; the last four of which as head of its air and ocean business. Hong Kong-based Podestà was responsible for the agent’s Asian business since 2003, and significantly contributed to the company’s growth over the past four years as COO Air & Sea Logistics, applauds Bernhard Simon, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Dachser. Since Mr. Podestà announced his retirement plans very early, Dachser’s top management was able to thoroughly prepare the succession process and operational handover at the top of the Air & Ocean field of business.
In-house solutions
In appointing Burger and Mueller, the Dachser executive board has placed the new responsibilities on the shoulders of two of its own long-standing employees who both have extensive company knowledge. Upon announcing Edoardo Podestà’s successor, Dachser’s helmsman, Simon commented: “With Dr. Tobias Burger, we now have an experienced logistics strategist at the helm of our Air & Sea Logistics organization, who has a deep and holistic understanding of the complex challenges facing the global logistics markets now and in the future.”
Multitude of tasks
Mr. Burger holds a doctorate in business administration. He began his career as a strategy consultant at Siemens Management Consulting, joining Dachser in 2009. After working in controlling and strategy development, Burger was given responsibility for Corporate Governance. At that time, he was already overseeing the strategic development of the global air and sea freight network. Burger was appointed Deputy Director Air & Sea Logistics in 2019, becoming Podestà’s right-hand man. During this time, he took up the role of global sales manager for the air and sea freight business. In 2021 and 2022, Burger successfully led the ASL EMEA business unit’s operations as Managing Director.
Roman Mueller, who joined Dachser in 2008, held various leading positions including Managing Director of ASL Korea and Head of Sales ASL APAC, in which he demonstrated exceptional leadership as well as strategic vision, states a Dachser release. Prior to his promotion, he led several key projects as Deputy Director ASL APAC. According to Dachser, he actively shaped the region’s strategic direction and advanced the logistics company’s presence in Asia. The company’s press release, announcing Mueller’s appointment, will officially be published tomorrow (15JAN24).
Basic strategic considerations
According to Dachser CEO, Burkhard Eling, the agent’s main impetus for future growth will come from business activities in Asia and the Americas. “By closely interlinking intercontinental transport with our efficient European overland transport network, we want to offer our customers a comprehensive solution for groupage services around the world. This Global Groupage offering, delivered by an integrated network with comprehensive contract logistics capabilities, definitely calls for a powerful air and sea freight organization with a global presence,” he exclaimed.
In an earlier speech, Eling pointed out that geopolitics is becoming a game changer for supply chain management. “Our customers are under massive pressure to change their sourcing structures. Among other things, they now need to reposition themselves regionally and increase their warehousing.” At the same time, this also means: “If logistics expenditures increase, this will be reflected in costs and service concepts.” However, this does not put globalization into question, he stressed. “There will always be sourcing on a global scale, but the framework conditions have become much more complex and complicated.”
In addition to pressing environmental issues, criteria such as scarce resources in terms of energy, real estate and personnel, are increasingly getting on the radar of politics and business. The question of what role values play as a strategic compass in an uncertain world, is also being asked more frequently.
