Deutsche Post seeks greater collaboration between DHL units

Deutsche Post has created a new chief commercial officer position to oversee all DHL activities, in a move the company says will improve collaboration between different DHL divisions. The company has promoted its former DHL Supply Chain chief operating officer, Bill Meahl (pictured right), to take the new role, reporting directly to Deutsche Post DHL CEO Frank Appel.

The promotion takes immediate effect, the company said today.

Appel said there was “untapped potential” in DHL that could be realised with closer coordination of its separate units, which are currently organised under the DHL Mail, Express, DHL Global Forwarding/Freight and DHL Supply Chain banners.

He said the decision to create the CCO position was the “natural next step” for the company in taking forward the pledge within its Strategy 2015 to become an all-round “provider of choice” for customers.

“With Bill Meahl we have found an excellent expert who will solely focus on further enhancing collaboration between all three DHL divisions in the interest of our customers,” said Appel.

Innovation

As well as core DHL activities, the new COO will take responsibility for DHL’s innovation and systems development units Global Customer Solutions and DHL Solutions & Innovations.

Meahl, 56, spent 30 years with US logistics firm Exel before it was acquired by Deutsche Post in 2005, and has been COO at DHL Supply Chain since 2008.

In his new role, he will be a member of the Executive Committee of DHL and will set on the steering committee for all DHL divisions, as well as leading the cross-divisional Global Commercial Board.

“Bill Meahl knows the dynamics of our business and of DHL itself, the needs of our customers, and is well familiar with the trends that will shape our industry over the next years,” said Appel.