Hermes Logistics Group – Making Inroads into Austria
Hermes Logistics Group – Making Inroads into Austria
Read MoreTag: Deutsche Post World Net
Germany rethinks board structure after corruption scandals
Under German law, companies are required to give as many as half of their supervisory board seats to labor representatives. That increasingly appears to be leading to conflicts of interest and bribery in corporate Germany, because executives need a board’s support to keep their jobs and carry out strategies.
Nowhere in Europe are the ties between labor and management so close.
Germany requires any company with more than 2,000 employees to grant half its board seats to labor.
Its advocates say that the consensus-driven corporate culture helped the country emerge from the devastating effects of hyperinflation and two world wars over the last century to become a powerhouse in the global economy.
But German media are beginning to point to questionable practices between labor representatives and management at other German companies, such as Deutsche Bahn and Deutsche Post.
At Deutsche Post World Net, the German postal company and operator of the DHL express delivery service, the chief executive, Klaus Zumwinkel, has also been accused of getting too cozy with labor. Good relations will be important next year when a commitment of no layoffs expires.
In one example, Deutsche Post has 530 employees who have put their normal jobs aside to act as full-time labor representatives, often with company cars and private secretaries. This is well above the legal minimum of about 400 for the company, which has more than 500,000 workers and is one of the world’s largest employers.
DHL Appoints New Senior VP, Humanitarian Affairs
DHL Americas, a Plantation, Fla., package delivery company, said it has appointed Dan Ludwig to the position of senior vice president to oversee the carrier’s newly created office of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Management.
Ludwig will lead a team responsible for providing direction and support across business units for DHL planning, preparation and response to all emergencies, including natural disasters. He also will work with government organizations and DHL, partners, including the United Nations and local civil entities, on emergency planning and response.
Read MoreGrowth and change drive the global 3PL market
Whether by acquisition, joint venture or alliance, consolidation in the third-party logistics (3PL) segment has been an almost daily occurrence over the last couple of years. This is one area where the global nature of logistics is clearly demonstrated.
Recent news that the European Court of Justice ruled the Dutch government’s “golden share” in TNT was illegal could facilitate two more acquisitions this year. TNT had announced its intent to exit the logistics business and concentrate on express and mail where margins are stronger. But, no word has surfaced on a potential buyer. German investor Cornelius Geber had expressed an interest in TNT, but his focus was on mail and express, not logistics.
The court ruling on the golden share defense could make TNT itself more attractive as a takeover target. Geber has not yet made any noises about reviving his interest in the company, but industry watchers note FedEx or UPS could be among prospective bidders for the express business. In fact, both have been jockeying for better global positions through expansions in Asia and Europe.
Read MoreDHL to expand its business activities in Russia
Deutsche Post World Net today announced its strategic initiatives for Russia. Through investments in excess of 250 Million USD within the next four years, DHL will continue its positive development in the express and logistics business in Russia. This announcement was made by Dr. Klaus Zumwinkel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Deutsche Post World Net at a press conference in Moscow. “Russia is a very successful market for DHL and we see great prospects for the future,” said Dr. Klaus Zumwinkel. “Russia is an important part of our global growth strategy. The planned investments demonstrate our confidence in the high potential of the Russian economy and the express delivery and logistics market in particular”.
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