DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics company, has announced the appointment of senior finance veteran Taketo Yamakawa as president and representative director for DHL Express, Japan with effect from 1 April. Recognised as one of Japan’s respected voices of industry, Yamakawa will be responsible for managing business operations and supervising strategies to enhance DHL’s market leadership through greater efficiencies and service quality.

With his appointment at DHL Japan, Yamakawa will be a member of DHL’s Asia Pacific Management Board and he succeeds Günter Zorn. Zorn, who successfully led DHL Japan as executive VP for North Pacific since 2005, decided to retire from DHL and pursue other career opportunities.

Yamakawa is an influential business executive with over 25 years of business management experience. He was the founding member and CEO of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) Japan Ltd, a USbased investment firm. Prior to joining DHL Japan, Yamakawa was an independent advisor to the Energy Resources Development Co. of Japan.