Couchman to boss DHL Express UK & Ireland
DHL Express has appointed Phil Couchman as managing director of DHL Express UK & Ireland. He was formally managing director of Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), DHL Express.
On taking the role, Couchman said: “Coming back to the UK, it is apparent that the market has become increasingly fragmented, meanwhile competition and customer demands are driving down costs – this makes DHL’s achievement of retaining its position of market leader even more impressive.
“The current market continues to present challenges for all businesses, of all sizes, but I believe we can continue on this trajectory as long as we’re focused on helping our customers grow.”
He was previously based in the SSA head office in Cape Town, South Africa, where he was responsible for the strategic development of a key area of the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region.
The SSA team consists of 3,500 employees, with over 12,000 customers across the continent. During his first year, he was responsible for leading the team in double-digit shipment and revenue growth.
Couchman has previously been a member of the DHL Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East, & Africa (APEM) Management Board and his career with DHL spans over 30 years.
He joined DHL Middle East in 1979 and was general manager in various countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He then spent five years in London where he set up DHL Aviation and the UK hub, which later became part of the wider DHL European network of international aircraft bases and hubs.
Couchman then returned to the Middle East to lead as regional director for ten years, before moving to South Africa in early 2007.
