Kluger has been working as a visiting lecturer at the Baden-Würtemberg Cooperative State University since October 2012, a position he took up when he left DB Schenker Deutschland where he was he was member of the Management Board responsible for Contract Logistics/SCM for Germany and the Europe Central Region.
Kluger also previously held senior roles at Fiege, Ford and Ryder Integrated Logistics.
In his new role Kluger will be responsible for developing key relationships and new business with industrial manufacturing and automotive clients.
"Operational excellence, kaizen, and lean logistics have been close to my heart and a very high priority for me throughout my career,” Kluger told Automotive Logistics News. “I am excited to see how Neovia's heritage, and in fact our whole culture and DNA, is deeply rooted in exactly those characteristics and behaviours that allow us to create true value and constant improvements to our clients' business."
According to Kluger Neovia is setting itself up for major growth, both through acquisitions and in terms of its quality service portfolio.
At the beginning of June Geodis Wilson appointed Mark Ellis as its global vertical market director of Automotive, the position previously held by Peter Baumann who has left the company.
Ellis has been working at Geodis for a year as a global account manager and was previously managing director of Denholm Global Logistics (DLG), a position he moved to following the merger of Arends International (of which he was also managing director) with Denholm Forwarding and Fourdale Export Services.
Herbert de Saint Simon has been appointed CEO of Bolloré Logistics and president of its supply chain management subsidiary SDV International Logistics. Saint Simon has been CEO of SDV International Logistics since 2009.
Under the direction of Bolloré Logistics’ chairman, Daniel Delva, the company has set up a new freight forwarding organization to help develop synergies between SDV and its French subsidiary SAGA, as well as two other French companies, Nord Sud and Transisud.
Saint Simon is now tasked with leading the new structure.
The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has announced that Michael Hawes will be joining as its new chief executive in the early autumn this year. He will replace Mike Baunton who has been acting as interim chief executive since the end of January following the departure of Paul Everitt to ADS Group.
Hawes will lead the executive team that will promote the interests and successes of the UK motor industry while helping to address the challenges of the current climate. The SMMT also said he will ensure that it delivers stronger representation and engagement with all its stakeholders and help accelerate growth of the two key subsidiary companies: SMMT Industry Forum Limited and Motor Codes Limited.
“I am very proud to be joining the SMMT as its new chief executive”, said Mike Hawes. “The SMMT is a highly respected and influential trade association, valued by all stakeholders. My role will be to build on this reputation and grow the value and range of services provided to our members. There is a strong organisation in place and I look forward to working with SMMT employees, as well as our partners and European colleagues, as the industry continues to develop.”
Hawes has more than 20 years’ experience in policy and public affairs, the majority of which has been spent in the motor industry. He joins SMMT from Bentley Motors where he held a number of PR, corporate and public affairs roles. He has also worked for both Toyota and, more recently, Bentley’s parent company, Volkswagen.
