Freight’s


Des Vertannes Head of Cargo, IATA


parts of the supply chain. He started work with British Airways in 1970, and during


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his 14 years at the carrier held several management positions, including cargo manager Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. In 1984 he set up his own freight forwarding business


before joining Air Canada in 1991 as general manager cargo, responsible for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He became chief executive at Air Menzies International,


the ground handling company, before becoming managing director Menzies World Cargo in 1999. He left to head the cargo operation at Gulf Air, and


between 2007 and 2010 was executive vice-president cargo for Etihad Airways. He joined IATA in June 2010. Even in a short time, Vertannes has achieved a large amount at the much-criticised airline association.


ne of the most liked men in the industry, Vertannes has risen to the top spot at IATA on the back of a solid, 40-year career in logistics across different


Just a couple of months after he joined, Vertannes set


up the Global Air Cargo Advisory Board, a group formed of associations along the supply chain, to advise, lobby, and sweep change into the severely damaged air cargo industry. He is a keen proponent of e-freight, and has helped the


industry bring it to the forefront of their strategies, while continuing to help airlines, forwarders and governments deal with the security issues caused by the terror threats of 2010. A true diplomat, he has also repaired relations between


airlines and forwarders, and made sure the ground handlers have also found their voice in the industry. He pledges to bring efficiency, sustainability and security


to the industry - and his charm, drive, innovation, contacts and experience means he has support from shippers to Customs, for forwarders to handlers. It is expected that, under his watch, the industry will almost certainly change for the better.


Global 100


Kenji Watanabe President & CEO Nippon Express


quarterly financial figures showed considerable strength – revenue up just 2% while group operating profit was up 28% - despite the challenges posed by both the recession and the recent tsunami, which severely affected its domestic transportation business.


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ippon Express is Japan’s largest logistics firm, and a global heavyweight with predicted revenues in 2011 of around $20bn. Its latest


President Kenji Watanabe has been with the


company since 1972, and has been tasked with steering it through the current economic uncertainty. A major plank in his strategy is diversifying Nippon Express away from its reliance on Japanese manufacturing with aim of achieving at least 50% of its revenues from overseas, and he has particularly targeted increasing its presence in other Asian nations.


34 IFW-Lloyd’s Loading List | Freight’s Global 100 | 2012


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