DHL appoints first global retail head to lead fastest-evolving sector

22 Mar '11

3 min read

DHL Global Forwarding, the forwarding arm of DHL, the world's leading logistics company, has restructured its global consumer sector launching retail as a separate division to provide global retailers and their customers with specialist logistics solutions.

Mark Lau, previously Senior Director for the Consumer and Retail Sector for Africa and Asia Pacific, has been named DHL's first global head of the retail sector business, based in Singapore. The newly created retail sector includes fashion and apparel, luxury goods, tourism, hotels, restaurants and catering as well as specialty retailers, general merchandise and supermarkets.

Amadou Diallo, CEO, Africa and South Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, said: “The retail industry is changing fast with key trends powered by the multi-channel purchasing options customers prefer. The result is that retailers must seek new and specialized logistics solutions to meet customer demand.

“Developing such solutions for retailers has played a starring role in the excellent growth of DHL Global Forwarding over the past two years and we believe a dedicated global retail sector managed out of Singapore will allow DHL to be even more proactive. It's the right place at the right time because the centre of growth for both retail sourcing and selling lies in emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific.”

It has been estimated that the top 10 import and export retail markets make up about 60% and 80% of total ocean trade volumes and 70% and 80% of total air trade volumes respectively. In addition to having to manage fast growth and multi-channel sales, global retailers face numerous new challenges in the local market such as infrastructural constraints and local buying behavior.

Kelvin Leung, CEO, North Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, said: “Retail sector clients span across the industry and include fashion, apparel and luxury goods, as well as specialty retailers and general merchandisers such as supermarkets and hypermarkets. The newly-created retail division will offer cost-effective customized logistics solutions designed not only to deliver the goods but help retailers better understand their sales supply chains.”

Mark Lau said: “In addition to offering global retailers solutions to the challenges they face, DHL's new dedicated retail sector will – by anticipating changes ahead like the way the retail business is conducted, the advent of multi-channel sales, the importance of discount stores and private label sourcing trends – have a positive impact on the sector worldwide.

The ability to fulfill multi-channel distribution through a single, optimized network is critical to retail success. DHL's local knowledge coupled with supply chain capabilities gives us a solid competency in this sector that is unparalleled.”

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