28FEB25 was Bernhard Stock’s last working day at EMO-Trans GmbH. After serving the company for 32 years, most of them as head of the air freight business, he left his desk in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt, and entered a new phase of his life as a retiree. However, as EMO stakeholder, he will remain with the company, but without operational obligations. Nevertheless, with Stock, the logistics specialist is losing one of its top managers and a globally renowned figurehead of the company.
A very socially-committed person
Bärenherz is a foundation for children with multiple and severe disabilities. At least once a year, a delegation of EMO-Trans employees, always led by Bernhard Stock, visits the facility to give presents to the children and make a large donation to the organization. “Supporting this foundation is a matter close to my heart,” Stock told CargoForwarder Global on one of these occasions. “Bernhard is a very socially-committed person,” confirms Günther Gasthuber, Managing Director of the co-loading association, IGLU Air Cargo GmbH. Both cargo veterans know each other very well, as Stock is Chairman of the IGLU Advisory Board.
Expanding the company’s footprint
Bernhard began his career with Schenker in Asia and was subsequently stationed in Taiwan, Dubai, and Lagos. He joined EMO-Trans in Frankfurt in September 1993, where he soon played a central role in air freight. This was followed by efforts to widen the company’s footprint by stepping into the fast-growing Indo-Asia region. In the following years, he was instrumental in establishing and developing business activities in most countries in the Middle and Far East. He was also heavily involved in the expansion of various subsidiaries.
Management buyout
As an entrepreneurially-thinking person, he participated in the management buyout with a handful of other executives after the Hamburg-born EMO founder, Eckart Moltmann, decided to sell the company, offering management to purchase his shares. “Bernhard’s commitment and leadership contributed significantly to the development and growth of air freight, which has always been our core business,” applauds co-stakeholder, Stefan Ritter, in a farewell message.
Leaving a big gap
Last year, he began placing significant parts of his tasks in the hands of younger colleagues. Since then, Norman Klinkhammer has been responsible for the entire air and sea freight business of EMO-Trans GmbH. At the same time, Bastian Trapp, who reports to Klinkhammer, was appointed Head of Air Freight Germany, following in Stock’s footsteps. He praises Bernhard Stock as an “absolute expert” who has shaped the company’s air freight business like no other. “When I took over the position, he was like a mentor who supported me and opened many doors.” Trapp’s conclusion: “Through his departure, Bernhard Stock is leaving a big gap at EMO-Trans GmbH.”
Now it is up to the next generation togradually fill this vacancy.
