DHL's Roger Crook named Chairman for the Caribbean and Latin American Express Delivery Conference

Roger Crook, CEO at DHL Express International Americas, assumed his role as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Caribbean and Latin American Express Delivery Conference (CLADEC).

Crook will replace another DHL Express International Americas’ executive, Rafael Couttolenc, who during his tenure at CLADEC, helped raise the organization’s profile among business and customs officials in Latin America and the Caribbean. He handed over his responsibilities to Roger Crook, in order to concentrate his efforts on the development of DHL’s strategic business plans in Brazil.

DHL Express International Americas

“Mr. Crook brings a unique and innovative perspective to the CLADEC board of directors, given his broad experience in the global arena, where he was exposed to a wide array of systems, technologies, procedures and tactics used by customs in other parts of the world,” stated Couttolenc, who served as President of CLADEC since December 2004.

Roger Crook is a proven veteran in the logistics and express transportation industry. As CEO of DHL Express International Americas, Crook is responsible for managing DHL Express’ business activities in almost 50 countries and territories in the Americas, including Canada.

Throughout his 20 year career at DHL, Crook has held various positions as Country Manager, Worldwide Business Director, and Operations Director for the Global Customer Logistics Express and the Global Customer Solutions Division.

Since its foundation in 1991, CLADEC has worked to promote free trade and to minimize the barriers that hinder the express transportation services industry in Latin America.

CLADEC is formed by 21 national partnerships representing the express transportation industry in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as top international companies providing services in the region, such as DHL Express, FedEx Express, TNT Express, UPS and World Courier Services.

“In the 21st Century, an open and viable global market is a reality that presents the need for competitive advantages for our customers, which can be realized through streamlined logistics and express transportation services. It is a great honor for me to become the Chairman of CLADEC, as it will allow me to contribute to the important role that our industry plays on a stage with free competition and globalization,” said Roger Crook when committing to his position.

CLADEC has participated actively in the most important business deregulation forums, such as the Americas Free Trade Area (FTAA), the free trade agreement among the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR); The US-Andean FTA negotiations with Peru and Colombia, the US-Panama FTA, The Association of Customs Officials of Latin America, Spain and Portugal (COMALEP), The World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the World Customs Organization (WCO).

CLADEC is very thankful to Rafael Couttolenc for his commitment and leadership. He was an active negotiator for this conference during the approval of the Cancun Agreements, which marked a milestone and adopted the Business Facilitation Measures in 1995.

Ten years later, serving as CLADEC’s President, Couttolenc participated in October at the 2005 Customs Directors Conference in Pucon, Chile, explaining the differences between Latin American and Asian customs, as well as underscoring the importance of facilitating business and customs reform for economic development.