Timothy Nickel has left tier one supplier Visteon in the US to join packaging supply chain expert and container pooling solutions company Surgere as vice president of operations. Nickel has had a 15-year career in the packaging industry, starting as a packaging engineer at Ford in 1997, before moving to Visteon in 2000. Since 2007 he had been global manager for packaging engineering.
While at Visteon he took the lead role in developing and implementing all packaging engineering activities associated with new plant location launches (eight plants in total). As global manager, Nickel was responsible for the development and deployment of strategic and tactical initiatives for Visteon locations globally.
At Surgere, he will help to oversee the company’s growing automotive business and packaging-related products, which include IT systems for managing container loops.
“I strongly believe that Surgere has positioned itself to present revolutionary concepts and tools to an industry that is ready for a "leap".
He went on: “Effective, well planned and executed packaging is a catalyst for highly efficient logistics and operations. With rising fuel costs and lengthening supply lines, poor packaging can truly be an operation's Achilles heel."
Yibing Wang has moved from General Motors, where he was manager, Supply Chain & Logistics, to take up a new role at Ford as APA Material Planning & Logistics plant group manager–Greater China. Wang was at GM for more than 15 years, joining as a logistics analyst in 1996 before being promoted to the role of GM China’s logistics manager in 1999. He previously served as manager of International Business Development at Dongfeng Motor.
GKN Freight Services has appointed Mark Pycroft as group commercial director with responsibility for global business development, procurement and projects.
Pycroft has a background in business development and account management gained during his tenure with DB Schenker and DHL. His has experience in multi-modal operations, account management, procurement and project management, including development of global supply chain solutions and new business implementation and programme management.
Axel J Maschka is the new senior vice president for purchasing at Volvo Car Corp. He takes up the new position from January 1st 2012 and replaces Bernt Ejbyfeldt who has left the company. Maschka moves over from Continental AG where he was president and CEO of the engine systems division. Prior to that he held leading positions with Bosch between 2001-2008, based in Germany, France and India.
"With a combination of sales, engineering and purchasing background from top automotive suppliers, I am very pleased to have Axel Maschka onboard,” said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car. “His experience will be a valuable asset for Volvo Car Corporation in our efforts to further develop and strengthen our sourcing and supplier base."
DB Schenker Logistics’ Martin Hackl will take on a new role for the company in 2012 as managing director of a new joint venture with long-time partner Khimji Ramdas Group in the Sultanate of Oman. Hackl has been serving as DB Schenker Logistics’ delegate in the region.
In early 2012, the new company, Schenker Khimji, is scheduled to provide air and ocean freight services, land transport, contract logistics and supply chain management.
BLG Logistics’ CEO Detthold Aden has been made a new member of Germany’s Logistics Hall of Fame, which admits logistics personnel who have rendered exceptionally outstanding services in the further development of logistics and supply chain management. Aden was elected from 27 candidates by an independent jury of experts. The award was presented on 6 December as part of a ceremony at the German Transport Ministry in Berlin.
“Detthold Aden has logistics in his blood. As a management figure and inspiring role model, he has set trends in modern logistics and significantly promoted the industry,” said the jury in support of their decision.
As the son of a Wilhelmshaven logistics entrepreneur, Aden started his professional career as a forwarder and has been the chairman of the BLG Logistics executive board since 1999.
