This Month's Features Articles
Air Cargo World Magazine - People
Mar
28
The U.S. Air Transport Association got a facelift in December when it rebranded as Airlines for America. The new name better conveyed the aviation sector’s vital role in connecting the U.S. to the global economy, A4A officials said. No one can better attest to this fact than Elizabeth Shaver, who was named director of cargo services during
the makeover process. An airfreight veteran who joined A4A from Delta Air Lines in January, Shaver talked with Air Cargo World about the challenges of her new role and why collaboration between the industry and government is key.
1. How important is cargo to A4A and your members? How will you promote this sector in your new role?
Cargo is critical to our members, who play a vital role in connecting people and goods to
Elizabeth Shaver
the global economy. For some, it is their core business, and cargo’s contribution to the bottom line of the passenger carriers cannot be underestimated. Having just arrived at A4A from a member carrier, I have lived the challenges they face in terms of the cost and complexity of non-optimized, non-harmonized regulatory structures. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to devote myself full-time to improving the environment to securely and efficiently move cargo via cooperative, targeted and constructive work with our government and industry partners.
2. Will the airlines and the cargo industry be able to meet the 100-percent international screening deadlines established by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration?
Yes, and we continue to believe our best opportunity to build on our high security standards is to move to a real-time, risk-based approach that incorporates advanced
data screening and the flexibility to focus limited resources where they are needed most.
3. How does the industry further tighten cargo security for domestic and international operations?
A strong working partnership between the government and industry is absolutely crucial. Our interests are intertwined, and the impact and progress of our actions improve when we coordinate with one another. No one knows the business and the operational details better than the airlines, and that knowledge is crucial to governments, as they look to develop the most effective and efficient regulatory structures and support mechanisms
to accomplish security objectives.
4. What are the biggest challenges affecting the industry in regard to international Customs processes?
First, the industry needs to maintain the air cargo business model’s competitive edge with regard to the impact of new security requirements on the operational timeline. Second, we are dealing with the varying requirements from country to country, which make compliance more challenging for carriers and also drive significant IT development costs. Lastly, promoting a more robust integration of trusted trade partners, along with carriers, into the process is very important.
5. How is the quest for the industry-wide use of e-documents progressing?
The complexities of accomplishing this can’t be understated. The airline industry has played an active role in moving from paper to e-cargo — with initiatives such as Cargo 2000 and e-freight. Government support and promotion are also indispensable. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been a leader with its development of new systems for trade data-sharing and document-imaging that will help the supply chain to deliver required documents electronically and promote the managed interoperability of Customs-collected e-data among participating government agencies.
On the industry side, we have come a long way in automating the supply chain, but much work remains. The varying requirements among countries, along with the high costs of technology development, are key barriers that we face.
Feb
27
AIRLINES
Emirates Airline has promoted the 15-year industry veteran Marc Shedden to the post of cargo manager, western Australia. He will be in charge of cargo movements at Perth International Airport, but will also oversee two daily passenger flights. Shedden has worked at Emirates for nearly 10 years.
UPS Freight has promoted Paul Hoelting from vice president of corporate business development to senior vice president of sales. Hoelting succeeds the retiring John Fain, a long-time executive of Overnite Transportation who was instrumental in UPS’s acquisition and transformation of Overnite into UPS Freight. John McDevitt is taking over for a retiring Allen Hill as the head of UPS’ corporate human resources group. And on the humanitarian side of the company, 35-year UPS veteran Eduardo Martinez has been chosen to direct the UPS Foundation when Ken Sternad enters retirement.
Epstein
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has promoted Marie Epstein from regional sales manager, Americas, to regional vice president of sales for the Americas. Epstein, who has 28 years of experience in the freight forwarding, brokerage and airline industries, joined Virgin Atlantic Cargo in 2010 after leaving Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines Cargo, where she served as strategic partner manager/director of strategic accounts. Prior to this appointment, she held sales and account management roles in the U.S. with Pakistan International Airlines, Pan Am and American Airlines.
Angela Titzrath will take on the role of board member for personnel and labor director for DHL on May 1. She succeeds Walter Scheurle, who is stepping down from the board in April after a 12-year stint.
TNT Express has nominated Marcel Smits and Sjored van Keulen as new members of its supervisory board. A final decision as to their appointment will be made at the company’s annual general meeting in April.
Cathay Pacific Airwayshas tapped Sebastien Granier as sales director for the Eastern portion of the U.S. The 22-year industry veteran, who spent most of his career for Air France, will be based in New York.
AIRPORTS
Schiphol Cargo has hired Berend-Jan Rietveld as marketing and communications manager. The 12-year marketing-industry veteran will assist Schiphol’s six-person cargo team.
The Connecticut Airport Authority has hired Dan Carstens as a marketing consultant. His job involves helping identify new routes and other ways to improve the stature of Bradley International Airport. Carstens formerly served as the publisher of The Airport News.
THIRD PARTIES
Strategic Aviation Solutions International has hired John Mc Donagh as an associate
Mc Donagh
responsible for the EMEA region, excluding Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Mc Donagh, who boasts more than 40 years of experience in the aviation sector, served as CEO of Cargo Service Center until its acquisition by Swissport in 2002. Most recently, he worked as an independent aviation consultant specializing in cargo, ramp, sales and security handling.
Air Partner has appointed Richard Everitt, who currently serves as the company’s senior independent director, to the position of non-executive chairman. Everitt worked as director of BAA plc for 10 years and has also held the title of chief executive at National Air Traffic Services. He is currently the chief executive of the Port of London Authority. The industry veteran succeeds Aubrey Adams, who has served in that role for the past three and a half years.
Kohlmann
NEO Air Charter has appointed Stefan Kohlmann as joint managing partner. A 23-year airfreight veteran, Kohlmann most recently served as managing director of Chapman Freeborn’s German operations. At NEO, he is responsible for expanding the company’s network, both through the establishment of sales representatives in European markets and the appointment of network partners worldwide.
Damco has announced several key appointments of senior executives in its North Asia region. Logistics veteran Henriette Hallberg Thygesen has transitioned from global chief process officer for Damco to CEO of the North Asia region. She replaces Steffen Schiottz-Christensen, who remains in North Asia as vice president and head of airfreight for the recently acquired New Times International Transport Service Co. Ltd. Also, Richard Morgan is now chief commercial officer of the North Asia region. Reporting directly to new CEO Thygesen, Morgan is responsible for the overall commercial and business development activities in the region.
Wattman
Grant Wattman has been appointed to president and CEO of Agility‘s project logistics business. Wattmann, who serves on the board of The Logistics Institute, previously worked for Panalpina, GeoLogistics and ABB Lummus Global.
DB Schenkerhas promoted Helgi Ingolfsson to the position of UK managing director from his current role as director of air and ocean freight for Scandinavia. Ingolfsson succeeds Jochen Muller.
Jan
27
Bart Jan Haasbeek’s resume reads like a who’s who of air cargo. In addition to co-founding Inforwarding in 2001, Haasbeek spent nearly seven years at OAG Cargo, most recently serving as vice president of strategic cargo sales. He now begins a new chapter in his career, transitioning to Saudi Airlines Cargo’s country sales manager for the Netherlands. He recently sat down with Air Cargo World to discuss his new position, which is based at Schiphol Airport. read more
