Dachser Restructures Its Air & Sea Business Field

At the logistics company Dachser, Dr. Tobias Burger will succeed Edoardo Podestà as COO Air & Sea Logistics on January 1, 2024. The successions in the business units ASL EMEA and ASL APAC are also arranged.Dachser is setting the course for future growth in its business field Air & Sea Logistics (ASL) with long-term planned personnel decisions.

(Kempten) Dr. Tobias Burger (45) will take over the position of COO Air & Sea Logistics and become a member of the board on January 1, 2024, succeeding Edoardo Podestà (60). Podestà will retire from active professional life at the end of 2023 after a 20-year career at Dachser and just over four years at the helm of the air and sea freight division.

“With Dr. Tobias Burger, we are preparing an experienced logistics strategist for entry into the Executive Board of Dachser. He will enrich our board team with his holistic long-term perspective on logistics,” explains Bernhard Simon, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dachser. “In addition, Dr. Burger will take over the marketing management for the entire Dachser company. This positions us well to proactively address the complex market changes, especially in air and sea freight, and to position ourselves accordingly.”

The former management consultant Dr. Burger started his career at Dachser in 2009 in controlling and strategy development before subsequently leading the Corporate Governance area. Even at that time, he was involved in the development towards a seamlessly operating global air and sea freight network. Since 2019, Dr. Burger has served as Deputy Director Air & Sea Logistics, acting as the deputy of Edoardo Podestà. During this time, he was initially the global sales manager of ASL. Currently, he is responsible for the strategic development of the entire business field in this position. Since 2021, he has successfully led the air and sea freight business of the ASL EMEA business unit in a dual role.

Marc Meier to Lead ASL EMEA Business from January 1, 2023

Dr. Burger will hand over the position of Managing Director ASL EMEA to Marc Meier on January 1, 2023. The 53-year-old joined Dachser on October 1, 2022, to prepare for the management of the regional business unit. The logistics manager, with expertise in air and sea freight, land transport, and warehousing, brings more than 30 years of international professional experience in the logistics industry. As CEO, he led the Hamburg air freight forwarding company Senator International together with the owner until its acquisition by Maersk in 2021. Previously, he served as CEO of the sea freight forwarding company Fr. Meyer’s Sohn for more than five years. Meier started his career at Kühne + Nagel, where he held various management positions, most recently as President of the Canadian subsidiary.

“With Marc Meier, we gain an experienced and internationally recognized air and sea freight manager who will successfully lead our ASL business in the EMEA region into the future,” explains Burkhard Eling, CEO of Dachser. “The close integration with our European land transport network will pave the way for further growth.”

Roman Müller to Succeed in ASL APAC from January 1, 2024

Additionally, Dachser has proactively arranged the succession in the business unit ASL Asia Pacific (APAC). The 41-year-old Roman Müller will succeed Edoardo Podestà on January 1, 2024, who has successfully led the regional business unit since 2014 and has served as COO ASL since 2019. The Swiss-born Müller has spent his entire professional life in Asia. He can look back on a 15-year management career at Dachser, including as head of the Korean subsidiary and sales manager for the entire APAC region. Since July 2021, he has served as Deputy Director Asia Pacific, acting as the deputy of Edoardo Podestà in the ASL APAC business unit.

“Roman Müller knows the Asian markets and their requirements in detail. In his previous career stages, especially in sales, he has achieved impressive successes and further developed our Asian organization,” explains Burkhard Eling, CEO of Dachser. “He has the best prerequisites to not only continue the outstanding development of the ASL APAC business unit but to elevate it to a new level with an even stronger focus on integrated service offerings. In close collaboration with Edoardo Podestà, Roman Müller will set the course for this in 2023.”

2.1 Billion Revenue with 4,300 Employees

The Dachser business field Air & Sea Logistics generated a revenue of 2.1 billion euros in 2021 with over 4,300 employees. The business field is active with 139 own branches in 36 countries. The Dachser business unit ASL EMEA includes 21 subsidiaries at 71 locations and employs over 2,100 employees. The ASL APAC business unit is represented in 11 countries. Over 1,500 employees work at 43 locations.

Photo: © Dachser / Caption: Dr. Tobias Burger will become COO Air & Sea on January 1, 2024