GEODIS Wilson

The ‘Best HR Strategy In Line With Business’ category award was presented to GEODIS during the Global Best Employer Brands 2021 awards ceremony at the 29^th edition of the World HRD Congress.

The Global Best Employer Brands 2021 celebrates the efforts of organizations and individuals for having the best practices. Particularly, ‘Best HR Strategy In Line with Business’ recognizes the importance of aligning Human Resources (HR) with the organization’s business strategy to boost performance and engagement.

GEODIS Asia-Pacific (APAC) embarked on a major transformation and growth journey 2 years ago.  An ambitious strategy and program were launched in line with the Group’s “Ambition 2023” goals, anchored in the guiding principle of “Led By Clients, Powered By Data, Driven By People”. This transformation program aims to pivot the business model to a much more solutions-based one and double the size of GEODIS in APAC within 5 years.

The GEODIS HR Strategy in APAC was created to support this end goal and built around four key pillars: Building a Talent pipeline; Accelerating Growth; Managing Performance and Creating An Inspiring Workforce.  HR has been working closely with all departments to ensure that within the time-scale, the right competencies and talent pool are in place, along with the appropriate development and training to support employees in their new and/or expanded roles, including critical change management that is key to a major transformation. HR has also focused on building an environment that is collaborative and engaging, in order to swiftly reach at the critical tipping point for such a successful transformation.   

Anne Tan, GEODIS’ Head of Human Resources in APAC said, “People are truly our most important resources and assets. As they are the ones implementing the business strategy on a day-to-day basis, motivating them and ensuring that our policies and processes are in place to enable them to achieve the business strategy, remains fundamental.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

Fabrizio Airoldi takes on the role of Managing Director of GEODIS in Italy after significant experience gained in the Group. He is responsible for the Freight Forwarding and Contract Logistics activities in Italy.

Fabrizio joined GEODIS in 2006 as Management Control Manager after a degree in Business Administration and experience in the logistics sector as well as in industry.

His academic background led him to carry out different roles within the financial function before making a decisive step into operations where he continued for three years in the AMERICAS region of GEODIS.  It was there that he held the position of Deputy COO with direct responsibility for logistics activities in the LATAM region.

Back in Italy in 2018, he was appointed General Manager of GEODIS for the Contract Logistics activity in Italy. He took up his new position as Managing Director of Italy as of January 1^st, 2021 and replaces Francesco Cazzaniga.

“Fabrizio’s extensive experience and his in-depth knowledge of the Italian market will be key in strengthening our presence in Italy which is the second largest country in the WEMEA region of GEODIS in terms of turnover,” says Laurent Parat,Executive Vice President, Contract Logistics and President & CEO of Western Europe, Middle East & Africa (WEMEA).

“I am very proud of this appointment and I thank the Group for trusting me,” comments Fabrizio Airoldi. “For me this is a gratifying personal achievement in my logistics management career and I am looking forward to the new challenges ahead I am sure that the professionalism and knowledge of all my colleagues in the Italian organization will allow GEODIS to continue along the steady path of growth it has achieved in recent years.  We will continue to serve our customers with a determination to help them overcome their logistics constraints”.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

In order to help brands assess their e-Commerce logistics capabilities, leading global logistics provider GEODIS, in collaboration with professional services consultancy Accenture, has devised a methodological approach to measure the level of e-Commerce readiness. Called “Maturity Score”, it determines challenges brands have to face to rapidly adapt their logistics infrastructure to changing retail purchasing habits.

In their recent, original research study of brands developing their e-Commerce sales channels[1], GEODIS and Accenture Interactive had identified five key logistics’ capabilities needed to build and maintain flourishing ecommerce operations.

On this basis, they have devised a methodology that evaluates each e-logistics capability and converts companies’ practices into scores. The average score across the 200 companies involved in the research are a middling 58; one third of brands earned “high maturity” scores of 67 or greater; one third achieved “average maturity” with scores of 51 to 66 and the remaining third recorded “low maturity” scores of 50 or lower.

These key capabilities are skilled inventory management, agile distribution networks, flexibility of transport options, IT and software optimization and, most crucially of all, the quality of the customer experience.

Commenting on the survey’s results Ashwani Nath, Vice President and global head of e-Channel solutions, GEODIS explains, “The level of the Maturity Score is a strong indicator of a brand’s preparedness for significant e-Commerce sales growth. Few brands excel at any of the 5 key logistics capabilities and even fewer excel at all of them”.

Challenges vary in accordance with the level of maturity.  “Brands at the more mature end of the spectrum tend to struggle with flexible shipping options and, at times poor inventory management, while at the lower end brands are challenged by integration of their stores with e-Commerce networks resulting in operational inefficiencies” says Nath.

GEODIS offers brands to assess their own level of maturity along with an e-Commerce expert.

The White Paper entitled ‘Getting e-Commerce Logistics Right: Faster, Leaner, Scalable’ is available for download on the GEODIS site

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

[1] ‘Getting e-Commerce Logistics Right: Faster, Leaner, Scalable’. The study involved phone and online interviews with 200 companies, which achieve sales revenues between $100 million and $20 billion across Europe and the US and covered a variety of sectors including electronics, fashion, home care and furnishings among others.

Having set the goal of 25% female fulfilment of its leadership roles by 2023, leading global logistics provider GEODIS has established an employee Mentor Program as part of its drive towards diversity. To mark International Women’s Day on 8^th March, GEODIS reports on the progress of the Programs.

Only 13% of senior leaders in the logistics industry as a whole are women. This is despite females scoring higher in leadership competencies than men, according to a Novosensus survey[1] in 2020.

“The logistics industry urgently needs a greater degree of gender diversity and inclusion to recognize, reward and profit from the talents of its female workforce and to improve its record of attracting women of superior ability.  The industry’s image is one of traditional male leadership, lack of upward mobility for women and unattractive to aspiring young females,” says Mario Ceccon, GEODIS’ Group HR director.

GEODIS is committed to contributing positively to gender equality and increase the number of women in leadership positions.  Its own progress in this regard has seen levels of 13% in 2017 grow to 18% currently and the drive to 25% by 2023 will continue.

Through its GEODIS Women’s Network (GWN), mentor Programs have been evolving in regions across the globe over the past four years. The GWN has three pillars that support its activities: career development and mentorship; inclusive leadership and connecting people.  The Mentor Program builds on the first of these pillars.

Each mentee has a mentor from within the company assigned to them for the duration of the Program.  They engage over a series of informal and more formalized sessions during which inter-action is consistent in being constructive, confidential, respectful, open-minded and frank.

In the Americas region a pilot was established in 2018 to trial a Mentor Program in partnership with the professional development experts at Dale Carnegie.  The Program has evolved in content and has grown in numbers of participants across the US, expanding into the Latin American organization for this year’s schedule starting in April.  In 2021, there will be a total of 218 teammates involved, both mentors and mentees.

Gerri Commodore, Senior Vice President New Business and GEODIS Women’s Network America’s Chairperson comments on the development of the Program, “Based on feedback from those involved in our 2019 Program, we made significant changes last year.  Our mentors and mentees wanted more structure and tools to help them.  So, we partnered with Impacting Leaders, a leadership consulting company and introduced the Style of Influence (SOI) assessment.  This measure focuses on the natural way people would influence others.” The response from mentors and mentees based on these changes, was overwhelming praise for the program and an increase in applications to participate this year.

“This year we are employing a new format to complement the original. This entails 29 of the mentees working in small groups. Each will focus on practical applications of our ‘5 Core Competencies of a Leader’ in order to further develop their natural leadership style” adds Gerri.

In the Asia-Pacific (APAC), GEODIS Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) team launched their Program in September last year, with a schedule of activity set through to July.  With the benefit of lessons learned as the Program develops, it is planned to roll it out across the GEODIS APAC region over the balance of the year.

Stuart Asplet, Managing Director, Pacific Region, the main sponsor of the Mentor Program comments, “We are seeking to understand the goals of our mentees and support their potential development within the company.  Although the first twenty-five are all women and drawn from the ANZ region, the Program, is open to male employees. A key goal of the program is to engender a feeling of empowerment, of being noticed, valued and develop confidence.”

A ‘6 Steps to Success’ framework has been designed for the ANZ Program running over the ten-month period. After initial training sessions last year, Mentee Networking Events and mentoring sessions are regularly underway. Feedback indicates that 98% of the mentees have found the structure engaging.

“Gender diversity is not only a social necessity but also a corporate responsibility and a sound business policy.  Empathetic leadership that balances the sensibilities of all genders brings greater understanding of all human inter-action and hence value creation for employees, customers, suppliers and business partners” concludes Mario Ceccon.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

[1] https://www.novosensus.org

The logistics service provider GEODIS has strengthened its global sales & marketing team in the NECE (North, East & Central Europe) region with the appointment of Robert Mianowski. In his role, Robert will be responsible for the regional development and implementation of GEODIS’ sales and marketing strategy across the region.

Robert Mianowski has 25 years of industry experience acquired while working in various sales and marketing roles and later as managing director of leading transport and logistics companies in Europe.

After studying journalism, political science and business administration, he started his professional career in 1994 at TNT Express. There he held a number of management positions in Central and Eastern Europe, most recently Managing Director at TNT Express Eastern Europe. Before joining GEODIS, Mianowski was Vice President Operations DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) at FedEx Express.

In his role at GEODIS and based in Frankfurt, he will report to Thomas Kraus, GEODIS President & CEO North, East and Central Europe, who welcomes his appointment: “I am delighted that in Robert Mianowski we have been able to gain another very experienced industry expert to augment our team. The NECE region requires country-specific and holistic customer solutions due to the varying demands of individual companies and markets within it. With Robert’s considerable experience his support will enhance our abilities to design these solutions”.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

GEODIS, a leading global supply chain operator, provides its customers with guaranteed space in an ultra-tight sea freight market from China to Europe.

The first 1,000TEU[1] capacity vessel, operated exclusively by GEODIS, is scheduled to arrive in Hamburg on 28 February. This ship is carrying a total of 435 forty-foot containers for customers who have found it increasingly difficult to secure space with regular carriers at a viable rate. The next vessel sailing is scheduled to leave Shanghai around 10 February. Depending on demand, GEODIS will plan additional sailings over the coming weeks.

Matthias Hansen is Senior Vice President Global Ocean Freight for GEODIS, “We understand the current market challenges resulting from unprecedented customer demand and the limitations of ocean carrier capacity and sailings from China and other parts of Asia,” he observed.  “We are working hard to find solutions for our customers.  Hence, this exclusive vessel charter to supplement fixed long-term agreements we have with core carriers.  We strive to deliver certainty to our customers amid the unstable market.”

“These market forces have created variable and unforeseen spikes in demand for Asian goods,” comments Onno Boots, GEODIS’ Regional President and CEO for Asia Pacific. “Our primary aim is to offer multi-modal solutions to our existing customers to enable them to ship on time and in a reasonably economic manner. As an adaptable and innovative service provider, GEODIS is permanently looking for alternatives including rail, ocean and air products that fulfil this aim for shippers on the increasingly volatile Far East West Bound (FEWB) trade lane.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

[1] Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.

GEODIS finalized its acquisition of PEKAES after obtaining regulatory approval. This transaction consolidates GEODIS’ network in Poland and Eastern Europe.

“We are pleased to welcome PEKAES’ customers, employees and management to the GEODIS Group,” announced Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS. “This acquisition, in a target region for the Group’s development, is a major step towards reaching the goals laid out in our “Ambition 2023” strategic plan. GEODIS now has an increased presence in Europe’s third-largest logistics market, offering Polish companies tremendous international opportunities.”

The acquisition expands GEODIS’ operations in Poland, as well as in the German market – Poland being an integral part of the German production chain – and in Central Europe as a whole.

Integration of the PEKAES business will be led by GEODIS’ Road Transport Line of Business, already firmly established in Poland. “This operation will allow us to develop our palletized freight network throughout Europe as we also develop further our abilities in the Polish domestic market,” explains Olivier Royer, GEODIS Executive Vice President for Road Transport. “PEKAES’ multimodal lines out of Poland represent a real growth opportunity for this mode of transport. They will supplement our lines in Western Europe, which are currently experiencing strong growth given our customers’ desire for transport with a low environmental impact.”

“We are opening a new chapter in PEKAES’ history. It provides many opportunities for our customers, partners and employees. Our customers can now benefit from the power of a global network to help them grow. For our teams, this means new growth opportunities in a strong international organization. We are delighted to join the GEODIS group, with whom we share the commitment to help our customers overcome their logistical constraints,” declared Maciej Bachman, CEO of PEKAES.

GEODIS now has nearly 1,500 employees at 29 sites in Poland, including some twenty hubs spread across the entire territory.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS had over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

PEKAES – pekaes.pl

PEKAES Group is a leading provider of transportation and logistics services, which includes the following companies: PEKAES Sp. z o.o., Chemikals Sp. z o.o., Spedycja Polska SPEDCONT Sp. z o.o.

PEKAES Sp. z o.o. is one of the largest companies in the TSL sector. PEKAES is committed to providing its customers with the most efficient management of their goods throughout the entire supply chain. We offer a complete warehouse space service, international and domestic LTL distribution, FTL, domestic, international, maritime, air and rail forwarding as well as bulk logistics and intermodal services.

Our group has one of the most efficient infrastructures of domestic distribution terminals, rail container and transshipment terminals in Poland and partnerships with organizations in all major European countries. PEKAES employs over 1,200 workers in its 20 Polish branches, 3 railway terminals and 6 logistics warehouses.

Our solutions are highly customized, integrating IT and continuous improvement of transportation operations, making us a provider of services of the highest quality. For more information on the PEKAES Group, please visit: pekaes.pl

GEODIS, a leading global transport and logistics provider has confirmed the extension of its AirDirect service with the addition of a weekly flight from Shanghai to Guadalajara (PVG-GDL). The inaugural flight is planned on 3rd March.  It will be the only such direct service on this route.

The service is a permanent addition to GEODIS’ network linking China with Europe and North America and provides the only direct access to Mexico from North & Central China.  This enhancement complements the existing Hong Kong to Guadalajara (HKG-GDL) schedule, initiated in November 2019. It has also been expanded into the end of 2022. 

“The success of the AirDirect Mexico service over the past fifteen months has encouraged our investment in a direct Shanghai flight to add to our existing Hong Kong offer” explains GEODIS Senior Vice President of Global Airfreight, Stanislas Brun. “By constantly refining our services in response to the dynamic market forces currently on display, we continue to support our customer’s growth.  We are proud of the unique PVG-GDL offering which augments our nearly 700 AirDirect flights performed over the past 12 months.”

“We believe a freight partner who is controlling the transport service network, including flight operations, is a vital asset to Asian exporters,” says Onno Boots, GEODIS’ Regional President and CEO for Asia Pacific.  “This latest extension to AirDirect is part of an own controlled network (OCN) that provides seamless control over shipments within our multi-modal network throughout Asia.”

“Access to premier scheduled wide-body capacity provides our clients with better lead times and supply chain security for sensitive cargo, including lithium batteries. It also provides the growing Mexican General Cargo market with much required capacity” says Mike Honious, GEODIS’ Regional President and CEO for Americas.  “In addition, our Road Network services in Asia and on-carriage solutions to destinations throughout Mexico allow trustworthy end-to-end supply chain management for our customers.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

For the second consecutive year, CDP has awarded global logistics provider GEODIS, the score of A- which is associated with companies who are environmental leaders. This result highlights in particular its approach to integrating its suppliers in its actions aimed at imposing stricter CO₂ emissions standards for vehicles at the European Union level. For ten years now, the Group has pursued its goal of reducing the impact of its activities on the environment and fighting climate change.

Evaluated every year since 2014, GEODIS has been awarded an A- score by CDP, an international not-for-profit charity, whose mission is to encourage companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Only 14% of the 5,800 companies assessed by CDP worldwide in 2020 received an equivalent or higher rating.

“At GEODIS, we are convinced that our success resides as much with controlling our environmental, social and societal impact as it does in our economic performance. For this reason, GEODIS implemented an exemplary corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy ten years ago. To put our convictions into practice, we act on what we can do directly to reduce our environmental impact while also working with others in the sector, particularly with our suppliers and customers” states Marie-Christine Lombard, GEODIS Chief Executive Officer.

“The CDP A- score is an indication of GEODIS’ transparency with regard to greenhouse gas emissions and the robust, exhaustive analysis that we carry out in order to identify, mitigate and manage environmental risks with our suppliers. It is also the reflection of GEODIS’ commitment to the decarbonation of road transport in the European Union” adds Cécile Bray, GEODIS’ CSR Director. In 2020, GEODIS was involved in the creation of the ECTA (European Clean Trucking Alliance)^[1]. The Group also works with various institutions to support the development of low-emission vehicles.

GEODIS is determined to become a major player in decarbonation.

GEODIS’ CSR policy is led at the highest level of the organisation and includes continuous monitoring of key international standard indicators as well as regular external evaluations. This approach contributes to the objectives of the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development programme^[2].

The GEODIS OXYGEN programme is structured around three areas of improvement:

• Measuring 
• Avoiding and reducing emissions
• Creating partnerships and recommending solutions

It is deployed at every level of the organisation with tailored action plans adapted to each entity.

More information on GEODIS’ CSR policy: https://geodis.com/corporate-social-responsibility

[1] https://clean-trucking.eu/

[2] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

Leading logistics services provider GEODIS is widening its range of worldwide project logistics services. At the same time, GEODIS is positioning this specialized offer with a new name in the market, changing from GEODIS Industrial Projects to GEODIS Project Logistics.

The name change reflects the more diversified service portfolio of GEODIS in this sector which now goes beyond serving the industrial segment. In addition to GEODIS’ growing activity in the Renewable Energy market, as well as the company’s evolving offer for the Oil & Gas industry, GEODIS is integrating its Aid & Relief business as well as its Marine Logistics teams into the expanded project logistics organization.

“GEODIS Project Logistics represents the full spectrum of services we offer today”, said Luke Mace, Senior Vice President Project Logistics at GEODIS. “While the logistical challenges of each sector can be very different, all have very important requirements in common: expertise in handling, attention to detail and quality of service. Such are the foundations of GEODIS Project Logistics. Our clients can have confidence that our diversification will strengthen our services through extended expertise, a continuous drive for innovation and our high standard for safety and compliance.”

GEODIS Project Logistics is offered in over 30 countries. 550 project logistics specialists worldwide operate in the sectors of Oil & Gas, Renewables, Rail, Nuclear, Mining, Power, Infrastructure, Petrochemical Production and Refining, Aid & Relief, Marine Logistics and Governmental Services.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.