Jens O.

  • Experience

    Heaf od Ground Middle East/Africa
    CEVA Logistics
    United Arab Emirates
    January-2023 - Present

    • AE/OM/BH/QR/SA/EG/JO/IQ
    • Alignment of ground organisation with budget for 47% GP increase
    • Achieved budget in Q1-2023 on EBITDA

    Establishment of CEVA Africa
    CEVA Logistics
    United Arab Emirates
    March-2020 - December-2022

    Instrumental in the establishment of CEVA in Eastern & Southern Africa

    AMI Worldwide acquisition (KE/UG/TZ/RW/BI/MZ/MW/ZW/ZM/BW):
    • Lead of integrating acquisition of AMI: TO $28m - 760 FTE
    • Regional management in 2021: increased TO to $43m (+54%) at 32% GP margin

    MACCFA acquisition (ET):
    • Lead on integrating MACCFA, Ethiopia into CEVA blueprint: TO $5m - 130 FTE

    SPEDAG East Africa acquisition (KE/UG/SS/RW/TZ):
    • Lead on acquisition of SPEDAG East Africa TO $120m - 400 FTE
    • Moderator of integration process in 2022 to ensure key staff/business retention

    Head of Oceanfreight Germany
    CEVA Logistics
    Germany
    July-2019 - February-2020

    Managed centralised oceanfreight operation with $50m TO - 80 FTE

    Group CEO
    Bondfide Group
    Kenya
    May-2016 - February-2019

    • $40m TO - 200 FTE
    • Transport company with +60 trucks/trailers and modular trailers
    • Lifting company with +30 mobile cranes and forklifts
    • International freight forwarding company incl. customs brokerage
    • Executive Apartment Hotel with 54 rooms
    • Construction company with +30 units of plant equipment

    Achievements:
    • Took over group management of an established asset-rich family business
    • Re-structured the business from focus on government contracts to become a
    sales-organisation, competing in the private sector.
    • Change-management to move culture from operational to profit-focus.
    • Strategic re-alignment to improve free cash flow

    Seafreight Director Southern African Cluster
    Kuehne & Nagel
    South Africa
    March-2015 - April-2016

    Seafreight Director Southern African Cluster (ZA/NA/MZ/MU)

    • $800m TO - 140 FTE

    Achievements:
    • Took over in March 2015 when the division was 30% behind budget.
    • Achieved with the team EBITDA 50% over budget for the full year 2015.
    • Together with German counterpart secured major account (+1000 TEU p.a.)
    • Successfully guided all teams through change of operating software
    • Established excellent rapport with all shipping lines and cleaned up all
    pending and unresolved claims.
    • Handed division over end of April 2016 at EBITDA CHF 500k above Jan-Apr’15

    Managing Director
    Rohlig Logistics
    Germany
    January-2012 - February-2015

    • $300m TO - 300 FTE - 8 branches

    Global Airfreight Director
    Rohlig Logistics
    Germany
    March-2011 - July-2013

    • 400,000 tons airfreight per annum

    VP Operations & IT
    Weiss Rohlig USA
    United States
    July-2008 - February-2011

    • $100m TO - 100 FTE - 7 branches

    GM Group Business Development
    Grindrod Freight Investments
    South Africa
    July-2005 - June-2008

    • 12 group companies - $150m TO

    Various
    Kuehne & Nagel
    South Africa
    July-1995 - June-2005

    2000-2005 GM Lead Logistics & Automotive Competence Centre
    1996-1998 Branch Manager Port Elizabeth
    1998-1999 Branch Manager Durban
    1995-1996 Customer Service Manager Johannesburg

    Education

    CIMA Cert BA
    CIMA
    South Africa
    January-2019 - December-2019

    Certificate in Business Accounting as Base level for ongoing education to become an Certified International Management Accountant

    MBA International Business Management
    University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
    South Africa
    January-1999 - November-2003
    FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding
    FIATA
    Germany
    August-1987 - June-1991

    German Apprenticeship as Freight Forwarder endorsed with FIATA Diploma