Charles Graham appointed as new Global CEO for Aviation, DHL Express
DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, has announced the appointment of Charles Graham as the new Global CEO for Aviation, DHL Express and as a member of the company’s Global Express Management Board. He succeeds Terry Nord, who will retire from DHL after eight successful years of managing growth for DHL’s global aviation services.
Based in Bonn, Germany, Mr. Graham will be responsible for all aspects of DHL’s aviation activities, in particular leading the strategic development of DHL’s global aviation network to both drive and support the Company’s growth plans.
“Charles’ track record and extensive aviation, transportation, logistics and financial experience will be invaluable to DHL and will serve to further enhance the depth and breadth of our senior management team as DHL charts a course of global growth,” said John Mullen, DHL Express’ Global Chief Executive Officer. “We are also grateful to Terry for his dedication and commitment to growing DHL into the leading express and logistics provider in the world today. We wish him a very well deserved retirement.”
Mr. Nord began his career in the aviation industry 34 years ago, working for several passenger airline companies in Canada from 1973 before joining DHL in 1999. He played a key role in building the structure of DHL’s Global Aviation Group, and was responsible for the company’s acquisition of 34 B757 aircraft for the European network, as well as their subsequent conversion to freighters. He also led the formation of the joint venture with Cathay Pacific to operate Air Hong Kong, and successfully negotiated long-term partnerships with Lufthansa for transatlantic and Europe-Asia Pacific flights, as well as with Northwest Cargo to operate transpacific services.
Mr. Graham has had a distinguished career in the global express and aviation industry, and most recently was CEO of AWAS (formerly known as Ansett Worldwide), a position he assumed in 1997 until 2006. AWAS is one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing organizations, boasting a fleet of 180 aircraft and conducting business in some 80 countries.
Under his leadership, AWAS successfully went through significant strategic changes and growth, including the integration of the company and the former Morgan Stanley Aircraft Finance in 2000, and its eventual sale to private equity in 2006. AWAS was originally a joint cooperative venture between TNT and News Corporation before becoming an independent operating company in 1999.
Prior to AWAS, Mr. Graham spent 18 years with TNT, playing a key role in establishing and strategically growing the resulting entities of the company’s various mergers and acquisitions. As CFO and Group Executive Director of TNT Express, he expanded the company’s coverage from 60 to 200 countries and was instrumental in transforming the company from a purely courier service provider to a fully integrated parcel, freight and logistics service organization. He oversaw the creation of the first European dedicated air freight network consisting of 40 jet aircraft .and grew TNT Express Worldwide, which was a joint venture between TNT and a consortium of five major national Post Offices, into one of the top four leading players in the global integrated express transportation market.
Mr. Graham, who hails from Scotland, is married and has six children. He holds a Degree in Law from the University of Glasgow. Ends.
