CEVA adds senior sector operations talent to propel customer-focused Contract Logistics strategy

Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, 27 April, 2015 – CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s leading supply chain companies, today announced the appointment of two senior executives with deep sector-specific operations expertise to further drive its customer-focused Contract Logistics strategy.

In its Contract Logistics business line, CEVA has established an industry sector and solutions approach led by industry operations experts in Automotive, Industrial, Technology, Consumer and Retail, Healthcare and Energy. This team’s role is to drive global standardization and innovation across all of CEVA’s vertical sectors while helping its customers meet today’s challenges in the marketplace.

The two new senior additions to the global Contract Logistics operations organization are Friso Bakker, Senior Vice President for Global Technology Operations, and Michel Vachey, Senior Vice President for Global Consumer and Retail Operations. Both executives report to Brett Bissell, CEVA’s Chief Operating Officer for Contract Logistics, and are responsible for driving the operational strategy, business growth and operational improvement of their respective sectors.

Mr. Bakker is a 20-year veteran of the logistics industry and will draw upon his in-depth knowledge of supply chain management to lead Technology sector operations across the company. His extensive experience includes senior management positions at Kuehne + Nagel and GE Capital Logistics where his responsibilities included development, implementation and improvement of complex, multi-country and global Contract Logistics solutions. Mr. Bakker has managed logistics operations for blue chip technology companies in segments including hardware, telecommunications, consumer electronics, telco carriers and electronics OEM’s. His responsibilities included solutions design, migration, optimization, and execution for inbound to factory, outbound B2B and B2C, kitting, “light manufacturing” and asset recovery. He has also engaged in R&D to provide customers with innovative technology sector solutions.

Mr. Vachey has extensive Consumer and Retail sector knowledge, having worked for Carrefour – a leading global retailer – for 14 years. His responsibilities included various management positions in the Carrefour stores organization before joining the company’s supply chain group where he led logistics reorganizations in several countries. Mr. Vachey joins CEVA from Kuehne + Nagel where he was head of Retail Operations, managing development and implementation of complex solutions and leading continuous improvement projects to enhance customers’ existing retail operations.

“I am delighted to have Friso and Michel join our Contract Logistics global leadership team,” said Mr. Bissell. “They and their colleagues are responsible for delivering sector-specific value-added services and solutions to our customers ensuring globally consistent practices and processes, fostering innovation and delivering best-in-class performance. We look to this team to strengthen our culture of continuous improvement that helps our customers successfully navigate business risk, improve efficiencies and reduce supply chain costs.”