Arnaud Cauchy (pictured), who was most recently managing director of Gefco’s division in Switzerland, has taken up a new role as managing director of Gefco India as well as becoming CEO of Mercurio Pallia (India).
Gefco has a joint venture with Mercurio Pallia in India, following its takeover in 2011 of Italy’s Gruppo Mercurio, which holds a 50% stake in the Indian logistics company. Gefco and Mercurio Pallia provide outbound vehicle and two-wheeler services as well as inbound logistics.
Cauchy has been with Gefco since 1996 when he was managing director of Gefco’s UK division.
Denis Igert will take over Cauchy’s previous role as managing director of Gefco Switzerland.
In the UK meanwhile, Gefco has Rob Brown has settled in to his new role as head of its Overseas Business Unit, covering Air and Sea freight. The company said it was looking to diversify into new markets, developing its Overseas unit services in the UK and beyond.
Brown was previously in strategic sales at freight forwarder Damco.
Gefco said the appointment was part of its development of Overseas services, as it seeks to secure a position as one of the top ten European logistics providers. Following its 2012 acquisition by Russian Railways [RZD], the company is able to make use of the latest Eurasian rail flows developed with its RZD and various partners.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity to work with one of the best logistics providers in the market at an exciting time in its history,” said Brown. “Since the venture with RZD, Gefco has quickly strengthened its position as leading supply chain integrator, with a global capability that can manage the most complex of supply chains.”
These latest moves follow the appointment of Frederik Nartus as general manager at Gefco Benelux. He took over the role from Luc De Leeuw, who left the company at the end of July. Nartus has experience within the transport branch and Gefco Central Europe. In his new position he will expand the transport activities of Gefco, especially in the Netherlands, which is an area the company regards as still having a lot of potential for development.
“Because of the geographical location, the Benelux [region] is the gateway to and the export platform for the entire continent,” said Nartus. “Rotterdam, Antwerp and Zeebrugge are important ports for Germany and Central Europe. It is crucial for the growth of the transport and automotive activities that Gefco is dominantly present at these markets.”
