George Willis has been promoted to West Region president for UPS, an appointment that follows a two-year tenure as UK, Ireland and Nordics district manager.
Willis succeeds Jerry Mattes, who has accepted the assignment of US operations manager at UPS.
Willis, now responsible for all package delivery operations in 25 central and western states in the US, has held a number of positions at UPS during a more than 30-year career with the company.
In 2012, Willis took on the role of US Small Package operations manager. Willis became South California District manager in 2006, overseeing the integration of several district territories.
Willis began his UPS career in 1984 as a part-time package handler in the Georgia District. He held a variety of part-time supervisor operations positions while attending Morehouse College. Willis received his bachelor’s degree from Trinity College.
After serving as a package car driver in 1989, he was promoted into full-time management in 1990 as a hub supervisor. Willis advanced to hub manager in 1992 and held various positions in operations prior to being promoted to hub division manager in 1999. In 2001, Willis relocated to Colorado as division manager in hub and package operations in the Rocky Mountain District. In 2004, Willis was promoted to East Carolina district manager.
In the role of UK, Ireland, and Nordics district manager since April 2013, Willis was responsible for operations, business development and strategy, overseeing roughly 9,500 employees.
Mattes’ new assignment as US operations manager is the latest chapter in a nearly 40-year career with UPS.
Mattes started at UPS in 1977 as a part-time package handler in the South New England District and became a package car driver in 1983.
Along with serving in a variety of operations management assignments, Mattes led the development of the company’s sales lead programme. Mattes was operations manager in the Georgia District and district manager for the Louisiana, Laurel Mountain and Metro New York districts. In 2005, Mattes was promoted to Pacific Region manager, which expanded in size and became known as the West Region five years later.
Mattes served on the board of directors for the Orange County United Way, where he held the position of Campaign Chair for two years. Mattes also served as a board member for the New Orleans City Business Council, New Orleans United Way, World Trade Council of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh United Way.
Following Willis’ promotion, West Europe district manager Luis Arriaga was named U.K., Ireland and Nordics district manager and Harld Peters, Europe, Middle East and Africa contract logistics manager, was promoted to replace Arriaga.
