BVL with New Structures and New Management

As of April 1, 2021, the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) will operate under the motto: Everything from a single source. The board and management have decided to streamline structures and leverage synergies. Thus, the BVL seminars, which have been hosted by BVL Campus gGmbH since 2008, will return under the BVL umbrella. BVL.digital GmbH – founded in 2018 as an incubator for digital offerings of the BVL – will be integrated into the BVL after two and a half years of intensive development work. A three-member team consisting of Dr. Christian Grotemeier, Mike J. Holtkamp, and Christoph Meyer will form the management of the non-profit Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) e.V., the BVL Campus, and the BVL Service GmbH starting April 1, 2021.

(Bremen) BVL.digital and BVL seminars will continue as brands with their respective portfolios. However, BVL members, customers, and business partners will now find their familiar contacts in the BVL office in Bremen. The operational responsibility for both areas lies with Dr. Christian Grotemeier, founding managing director of BVL.digital GmbH and now one of the three managing directors of BVL, who were appointed on April 1, 2021.

“BVL.digital has developed many innovative products and services in recent years. Under the BVL umbrella, these will now be more closely linked with existing products and services than ever before. The experiences of the highly agile BVL.digital team will be incorporated into the association’s work,” said Grotemeier.

There is a highly valuable interface between BVL.digital and the BVL seminars. The digitization of the logistics sector requires intensive further training and retraining of many employees. It seems sensible to think about qualification and digital conferences together and to develop new formats that fit the changed working conditions.

The BVL board and management are convinced that members and customers will benefit from the even closer integration of BVL offerings and a committed collaboration of the full-time expert teams. The already good cooperation between the stakeholders will be strengthened by the integration and communication simplified.

Grotemeier, Holtkamp, and Meyer Form the Management of BVL

A three-member team consisting of Dr. Christian Grotemeier, Mike J. Holtkamp, and Christoph Meyer will form the management of the non-profit Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) e.V., the BVL Campus, and the BVL Service GmbH starting April 1, 2021.

Dr. Christian Grotemeier joined BVL in 2014 as Head of Research and Events. In 2018, the PhD economist became a member of the management and took over the management of the newly founded BVL.digital GmbH, which is now being integrated into the BVL. As managing director of BVL e.V., he will focus on marketing/sales, product development, seminars, as well as digitization and IT.

Mike J. Holtkamp joined the BVL office as commercial managing director on February 15, 2021. The business economist (BA) and trained industrial clerk was most recently employed as commercial manager, finance & controlling, IT, and HR at Fuchs Wisura GmbH in Bremen. He succeeds long-time managing director Uwe Peters, who will leave BVL at his own request in mid-year as previously planned. Beyond finance and HR, Holtkamp is responsible for event organization and purchasing.

Christoph Meyer has been leading the research and events department of BVL since 2018 and has already served as project manager of the German Logistics Congress in recent years. The graduate regional scientist came from Jacobs University, where he worked as the coordinator of the International Logistics department. In the management, Meyer is responsible for content, the German Academy of Foreign Trade and Transport, and the relationship management of the association.

Prof. Thomas Wimmer Remains Chairman of the Board

Prof. Thomas Wimmer, who stepped back from management after his election as chairman of the BVL in March 2020, holds overall responsibility in his board position and continues to manage the areas of press and public relations, committee contacts, as well as the projects MX Award, German Logistics Prize, and The Economic Makers.

Together with Uwe Peters, the commercial managing director, the two formed the core team of the full-time leadership of BVL since 2004. After Wimmer’s election to the top of the board, Uwe Peters became the sole managing director for a transitional period. At that time, it was already clear that he would leave BVL at his own request in mid-2021. Until then, he will particularly support his successor Mike Holtkamp with advice and assistance during the onboarding process.

Photo: © BVL / Caption: Board of BVL as of April 1, 2021 (from left) Mike J. Holtkamp, Christoph Meyer, and Dr. Christian Grotemeier