BVL Members Confirm Strategy of Board and Management

This year’s general meeting of the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL), which was to take place during the transport logistic fair in Munich, was broadcast online from the StreamLab studios in Bremen. Voting was conducted through proxy voting by a few members present in the studios, who cast their votes there directly. A total of 181 members were represented with voting rights.

(Bremen) The board and management of the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) reported to the members about a tumultuous year 2020, which began with a highly successful Automotive Logistics Forum, but after the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, only a few in-person formats were possible – such as the Trade Logistics Congress and the Spare Parts Logistics Forum. “The presence at the German Logistics Congress in October then fell victim to the second wave of the pandemic, a stress and agility test like no other,” said the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Thomas Wimmer.

Cost Reduction and Restructuring Program

Managing Director Uwe Peters explained that the BVL had realized three-quarters of its revenue from events in 2019. This revenue had decreased by 85 percent in 2020. The BVL is countering this with a painful cost reduction and restructuring program, but must also expect reduced income from event operations in 2021. The annual financial statement for 2020 and the budget for 2021 were approved by the members. The members unanimously discharged the board and the auditors, with each abstaining from voting.

To strengthen the income side of the BVL, the board and management proposed a differentiated increase in membership fees starting in 2022, as well as a special assessment for 2021 for voting. Uwe Peters pointed out that the increase would not exceed the inflation adjustment of the last 20 years – while simultaneously significantly expanding the association’s offerings. These two measures, which strengthen the financial scope of the BVL for implementing its Forward Strategy 2025, were also confirmed by the members. The board and management thanked the members for their solidarity in supporting their association – and distributing the burden across many shoulders.

Personnel Changes in the Committees

The members elected Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo AG, to the board. Frank Dreeke, CEO of BLG Logistics Group, was re-elected for another three-year term. He was confirmed as Deputy Chairman of the Board and a member of the Finance Committee after his election. The members bid farewell to the treasurer Dr.-Ing. Stefan Wolff, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 4flow AG, after twelve years of highly committed board service. His successor as treasurer is Stephan Wohler, a member of the board of Edeka Minden-Hannover and Edeka Foodservice Stiftung & Co. KG. He will thus join the BVL presidium alongside Chairman Prof. Thomas Wimmer and Frank Dreeke. In March, Lufthansa board member Peter Gerber resigned from his BVL board mandate due to his professional move to Brussels. Wolfgang Simonis departed from the two-member team of auditors. Dr. Maik Speel was re-elected as an auditor, and Dr. Andreas Mansch was newly elected.

Honors

The BVL is supported by the commitment of many volunteer members and the efforts of those responsible in the office. With great gratitude and honorary membership in the BVL, the board honors the outgoing board member Dr.-Ing. Stefan Wolff as well as the outgoing advisory board member Prof. Frank Straube (TU Berlin). Straube was a member of the board for twelve years and then a member of the advisory board for ten years. The Golden Honorary Pin is awarded by the board to the outgoing advisory board member Thomas Zernechel, who led the corporate logistics of Volkswagen AG until the end of 2020. Uwe Peters, who will leave his position as full-time managing director of the BVL at the end of June 2021, also receives the Golden Honorary Pin for his services.

Photo: © BVL