Atlanta-based United Parcel Service (UPS) has named Alan Gershenhorn its executive vice president and first chief commercial officer effective immediately.
Gershenhorn, 55, will lead the company’s growth and innovation programs including new market development, innovative products and solutions, increased speed-to-market, and stronger customer engagement across the entire UPS portfolio.
Gershenhorn, a 35-year UPS veteran, previously served as chief sales, marketing, and strategy officer.
“We must continue to push the limits on innovation and solution delivery for our customers,” said Scott Davis, UPS chairman and CEO. “Alan has been instrumental in defining and driving our strategic priorities of healthcare logistics, global business to consumer services, and emerging markets capabilities. These will remain priorities among many other growth platforms that will redefine UPS over the next decade.”
The American supply chain company also announced the addition of Kate Gutmann and Mitch Nichols to the management committee, the executive leadership team responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction for the company’s worldwide operations.
Gutmann, a 45-year-old native of Troy, New York, is a 24-year UPS veteran. She will lead global sales solutions and customer engagement strategy. Her new role as senior vice president of worldwide sales and solutions was created to further market penetration through broader customer relationships.
Nichols, 58, a 27-year UPS veteran and current president of UPS Airlines, was promoted to a newly created position on the management committee as senior vice president of transportation and engineering. His responsibilities will include UPS Airlines, transportation, engineering, and sustainability.
Brendan Canavan, 53, currently president of UPS Asia Pacific, will replace Nichols as president of UPS Airlines.
All of the management changes are effective immediately.
“UPS has succeeded for more than 100 years because we can adapt to global forces that are continuing to reshape how business operates,” said Davis. “These appointments position key leaders to accelerate our plans for global growth, innovation and technology leadership, and exceptional customer service.”
Earlier this month, the logistics company named David Abney, currently the company’s chief operating officer, its new chief executive officer.
Scott Davis, 62, who has served as the company’s chairman and CEO since 2008, will retire and assume the role of non-executive chairman. Both moves are effective September 1, 2014.
Abney, 58, becomes the 11th chief executive officer in the 107-year history of the company. He began his UPS career in 1974 as a part-time package loader. Over the course of his 40-year career, he held various operational positions leading to his current position.
As chief operating officer, Abney had responsibility for logistics, sustainability, and engineering, leading the company’s significant investment in alternative fuel fleets, and implementing programs to expand the company’s total freight volume. In that role, he directed the group’s transportation network serving more than 200 countries and territories.
“David possesses tremendous depth of understanding of the rapidly evolving transportation and logistics markets,” said Davis. “His capability to anticipate global trends, identify risks and guide the company and our clients to capitalize on opportunities has proven invaluable. We have navigated through challenging economic recovery periods during my tenure as CEO.”
Photo: Kurush Pawar
