Panalpina has expanded its executive board with the addition of positions for air freight, ocean freight and logistics.

“Our company has ambitious growth targets for the coming years and a clearly defined plan for reaching them,” said Stefan Karlen, CEO of Panalpina. “Our three products – air freight, ocean freight, and logistics and manufacturing – will be critical drivers accelerating Panalpina’s growth, and that is why we need direct engagement in the decision-making process at the highest management level.”

Lucas Kuehner [left] has been appointed executive vice president of air freight, effective January 1, 2019. Kuehner has worked at Panalpina since 2000 and has held senior roles in Switzerland and the US. He has been the global head of air freight and a member of the executive committee since 2012.

Peder Winther [right] will become executive vice president of ocean freight from February 1, 2019. He has nearly 30 years of international experience in the freight forwarding and transportation industry. Winther joins from Kuehne + Nagel, where he was recently president and regional manager of western Europe.

Daryl Ridgway will continue to be global head of ocean freight until the beginning of 2019, with his future role within the organization to be announced at a later date.

“We’ve successfully turned around contract logistics and also established logistics manufacturing services as an innovative, industry-leading offering and an important differentiator for Panalpina,” said Karlen. “Our focus is now on improving top-line growth so as to firmly establish logistics and manufacturing as the third strong product in the long-term. We are currently further developing the growth strategy and refining the positioning for this part of our business.”

The appointment to the role of executive vice president of logistics will be further announced at a later date, according to Panalpina.