Henk Venema, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Network Carrier Management at DHL Global Forwarding, has been named the new chairman of the Cargo iQ Membership Board.
Venema, who has over 15 years of experience in air cargo, takes over from Max Sauberschwarz, Vice President and Global Head of Carrier and Gateway Air Logistics at Kuehne + Nagel, who chaired the IATA interest group from 2013. Kester Meijer, Director Operational Integrity, Compliance & Safety – ISCM, Air France KLM Cargo, will continue to support the group as its Vice Chairman. Sauberschwarz will also continue to serve on the Board.
“It is an enormous accomplishment that Cargo iQ can count so many great industry leaders amongst its board members,” said Ariaen Zimmerman, Executive Director, Cargo iQ.
“We owe a whole lot of gratitude to Max Sauberschwarz, who has done so much to get, and keep, us on the right track.
“His leadership will be missed, but Max will remain on our Board and I am confident that, in Henk Venema, we have found another great leader to help our Board and membership continue to improve the performance of the air cargo industry.”
Venema takes over as Cargo iQ continues to roll out a series of initiatives kick started under Sauberschwarz’s chairmanship. This included the rebranding at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium in Berlin, Germany, in 2016.
“I am excited to be taking the role of Chairman as the organisation continues to innovate and develop, thanks to initiatives such as the new Smart Data Portal,” said Venema.
“Cargo iQ is a key initiative in the industry, where not only airlines, but also freight forwarders, handlers, and technology providers come together to define the joint and unique quality standards we want to set for the industry going forward.
“The new projects we are working on, built upon the excellent work the organisation has successfully delivered so far, will further boost Cargo iQ’s quality standards.
“The new portal enables members to not only see data and trends, but also to act internally to improve levels of quality and fix specific pain points – an important diagnostic tool that will help to translate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into material actions.”
The new Smart Data Portal enables members to interrogate and interpret information about their service levels, helping them to develop new products and improve existing services.
The group has also recently appointed an external auditor, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), to carry out its member Audit and Certification Scheme.
“It has been my privilege to lead Cargo iQ and ensure we take it to the next level,” said Sauberschwarz.
“Building on the important work of the organisation since it was formed 20 years ago, members are demonstrating that, by working together, we can – and will – improve our industry.”
As part of its ongoing development, Cargo iQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Global Shippers’ Forum last year and recently met with a task force of shippers in London, UK, to start work on an initiative to launch shipper KPIs.
