Deutsche Post DHL Group has announced that Jürgen Gerdes will take charge of a newly created board mandate for Corporate Incubations.
In this new board position, Gerdes is reportedly tasked with using his proven experience in advancing agile developments and successful market rollout of new customer oriented services and solutions. DHL is preparing for new opportunities and challenges arising in the areas of customer experience, sustainable logistics and automation.
“Gerdes very successfully led the Post – eCommerce – Parcel division for more than a decade,” DHL said in a statement.
“Under his leadership the transformation of Deutsche Post into a customer-oriented, innovative and successful provider of postal and parcel services has been propelled with foresight and vigor. In recent years he drove the swift internationalisation of the eCommerce business of the PeP division in Europe, Asia and the Americas.”
Pending the appointment of a new Head of the PeP division, Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, will take on corresponding responsibilities in a dual role.
With the creation of the board mandate for Corporate Incubations, DHL is also preparing for the acceleration of its StreetScooter – the electric delivery van.
“Since the project start in 2011 a unique family of electric vehicles has been created that includes besides delivery vans also e-bikes and e-trikes,” according to DHL. “From within the Group and together with partners Corporate Incubations will dynamically further advance the technological development as well as the commercialisation of the StreetScooter product family.”
The new Board department of Deutsche Post DHL Group will also act as an incubator for mobility solutions, digital platforms and automation. Existing new business models of Deutsche Post DHL Group and related technological innovations will be transferred to the new department.
“Jürgen Gerdes led the division Post – eCommerce – Parcel for more than a decade very successfully and thus made a significant contribution to the achievement of the Group's strategic targets,” said DHL Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Wulf von Schimmelmann.
“In our Group, Jürgen Gerdes is a role model for entrepreneurial spirit, innovative foresight and business success,” said CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group, Frank Appel.
“He has triggered the development of the StreetScooter when e-mobility was not yet a common theme, including, a whole range of customer-oriented innovations such as in the area of e-commerce, which reflect his drive. With his experience, his energy and his inspiration Jürgen will give our Group decisive stimulus for new business opportunities,” he said.
“I have dedicated my whole professional career so far to providing maximum customer value and driving innovation following a sustainable, market-oriented management approach,” said Gerdes. “Under my new responsibility we will develop sustainable business models on the basis of digital solutions, e-mobility and automation. Together with my colleagues, I am looking forward to continue building the future of our Group.”
Gerdes joined Deutsche Post DHL Group more than 30 years ago and has been a member of the Board since 2007. Gerdes holds a diploma in public administration as well as business administration (University of Münster). In 2017, he received an honorary doctorate from the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.
(Image: Deutsche Post DHL Group CEO, Frank Appel.)