Panalpina Appoints New CFO and Regional CEO Americas

Panalpina today announced two key executive hires. Robert Erni (45) is to become the new Chief Financial Officer of the Group. Ferdinand Kurt (59) is to become the new regional CEO for the Americas. Both have an extensive track record in the freight forwarding and logistics industry.

“Robert Erni and Ferdinand Kurt are two distinguished industry experts. I am very pleased and excited to have them on board. They will strengthen our executive team and help us reach our ambitious growth targets for 2014,” said Panalpina’s CEO Monika Ribar. The exact starting dates for Erni and Kurt have yet to be confirmed. New CFO has 19 years of finance experience in the industry Swiss-born Robert Erni has worked in various finance positions at Kuehne + Nagel for the last 19 years.

Most recently he was Head of Corporate Controlling (2009 to 2012) and Head of Corporate Accounting and Treasury (2004 to 2009), in both functions reporting to the Group CFO. In addition, he was actively involved in Investor Relations and became well-known in the financial community. His profound finance and managerial expertise is further based on several senior postings in Asia Pacific (Hong Kong and India), in South America (Argentina) and in the USA.

“Robert Erni knows the finances of a supply chain solutions company like ours inside out. He will push our organization’s performance as we go after sustainable, profitable growth. I am delighted to have him as a new sparring partner. He is also a perfect fit for our Executive Board and the new Executive Committee,” said Ribar. Regional CEO Americas to be based in Miami Swiss-born Ferdinand Kurt has more than 30 years of international experience in the freight forwarding and logistics industry and a broad knowledge of the North and Latin American markets and cultures. He joins Panalpina from Kuehne + Nagel where he most recently held the position of President and CEO South and Central America.

From 2006 to 2008 he was Kuehne + Nagel’s CEO for Canada. From 1996 to 2006, he was the Managing Director for Mexico. From 1985 to 1994, Kurt had already worked for Panalpina in different positions in the USA and the UK. In his new position as Panalpina’s regional CEO Americas, Kurt will be based in Miami and responsible for North and Latin America.

“Ferdinand Kurt is a great personality with an extensive skill set. He brings his experience and a strong track record in achieving substantial growth to the table,” commented Ribar. Regional senior management complete Kurt’s appointment completes the staffing of Panalpina’s recently announced new regional management structure at the senior level.

As reported earlier, today’s CFO Marco Gadola will become regional CEO Asia Pacific (based in Singapore), and Volker Boehringer, currently Area Manager Central Europe, will become regional CEO Europe/Middle East (based in Frankfurt). The changes will come into effect in the first half of 2012.