DHL Becomes Premium Partner of Bundesliga Club 1. FC Köln

DHL becomes the premium partner of 1. FC Köln to recognize its employees in the region and engage them more closely. In addition, DHL will provide the football club with a wide range of services, from club logistics to local and global delivery of shipments, as well as e-commerce activities for the FC’s fans.

(Bonn) Employees of DHL, in turn, will receive exclusive opportunities to get closer to their local club and thus benefit directly from the partnership. The cooperation initially extends over one year and can be extended for another year.

“Football is the most popular sport in Germany – also among our employees. We are very pleased that we can give something back to them through the partnership with 1. FC Köln. As a company that puts people at the center, we place great value on recognizing our employees. And as our first place in the Great Place to Work for All Awards shows, our employees certainly appreciate that,” explains Fadzlun Sapandi, EVP Global HR at DHL Express.

DHL and 1. FC Köln can already look back on a successful five-year collaboration. In addition to the benefits for employees, DHL has the opportunity for advertising measures at every Bundesliga home game and will also be the presentation partner of the social media series “Fastest Player of the Game”.

Sharing Common Values

“We are very proud and excited about our new partnership with 1. FC Köln. It is the leading football club in close proximity to the headquarters of our group, to our air freight hub at Cologne Airport, and to the global and regional headquarters of DHL Express. At the same time, the club shares our values such as teamwork, speed, and ‘Right 1st Time’. The partnership gives us the unique opportunity to connect our employees with their local football club and provide them with access to games and other offers as a sign of recognition,” says Markus Reckling, Managing Director of DHL Express Germany.

“We are pleased that we have been able to win a global player from the region for our partner network with DHL. The FC will significantly benefit from the company’s expertise in logistics and e-commerce as part of the cooperation,” says Philipp Türoff, Managing Director of 1. FC Köln.

Connecting People, Improving Lives

DHL invests extensively in its employees. The company’s motto “Connecting People, Improving Lives” applies not only to customers and consumers who use DHL’s logistics services but also to its employees. In addition to various training opportunities in different business areas, the company offers numerous programs to promote the well-being of its employees. This includes, for example, how the tasks, expectations, pressures, and work environments of employees affect their health and satisfaction.

Awarded for Commitment to Employees

In addition, employees are celebrated during the DHL Global Diversity & Inclusion Week and as part of the company’s network RainbowNet, which provides a platform for LGBTQIA+ employees. The initiative “Women at DHL”, which supports women in their professional development, is just one of many programs aimed at motivating and promoting female employees and includes networking events, career programs, and talent pools. DHL has already received numerous awards for its commitment to its employees, such as the Great Place to Work Award and various Top Employer Awards.

Photo: © DHL / Image Caption: (l.r.) Philipp Türoff (Managing Director 1. FC Köln), Fadzlun Sapandi (EVP Global HR Express), Dr. Werner Wolf (President FC Köln)