< PreviousPOWER LIST | LOGISTICS LEADERS 30JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Maersk is an integrator of container logistics,can provide its customers with end-to-end solu- tions for all of their logistics needs. Maersk brings both solutions to take care of the physical aspects of the supply chain covering ocean and landside transportation, ware- housing requirements, and the management and visibility of the supply chain. Christopher Cook, Managing Director for UAE, Oman, and Qatar, joined Maersk through its four-year Graduate Program called the Maersk International Shipping Education in 2002. He was exposed to, and excited by logistics at a very early stage through his family and work experience in Journalism at a logistics publication. “Maersk provided me the opportunity to be part of the global business in shipping and logistics with its presence in more than 100 countries at that time. It allowed me to experience different cultures, and gave me an opportunity to build on my education - which it continues to do,” said Cook. When Cook joined Maersk, the value of supply chains was starting to emerge; outsourcing to China was taking off, post- WTO succession and information flow was still very manual and paper-based. “20 years later, supply chains are now recognised as pivotal for the success of a business versus a necessary evil and as a result of the pandemic - now understood to be vital for, amongst other things, food se- curity. This combined with an acceleration toward simplifying the flow of information via digitisation, are probably the two key changes that stand out for me,” noted Cook. Maersk offers single-window access for the entire supply chain, bringing more sig- nificant control over customers’ flow of goods and visibility. Its digital solutions are deeply embedded in its offerings now and are thus pioneering the transforma- tion in the sector of logistics. “We are truly working outside-in to ensure that we develop and offer what customers want and need instead of pushing our own products and services to them without truly considering their requirements,” stated Cook. “We are committed with our own sustainability targets and striving hard to ensure that we implement carbon- neutral shipping in the future. Maersk is taking the lead and innovating around this topic of sustainability in logistics. Our goal is to achieve net zero CO2 emis- OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO CO2 EMISSIONS BY 2050 AND TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE HAD PROMISED TO PUT OUR FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL VESSEL ON THE WATER BY 2030. WE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT WE WILL, IN FACT, BE SEVEN YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR THE CARBON NEUTRAL VESSEL AS WE WILL OPERATE WORLD’S FIRST CARBON NEU- TRAL LINER AS EARLY AS IN 2023.” CHRISTOPHER COOK, MAN- AGING DIRECTOR FOR UAE, OMAN, QATAR AT MAERSK. BECOMING A GLOBAL INTEGRATOR Christopher Cook, Managing Director for UAE, Oman, Qatar at Maersk, discusses his proudest moments and the achievements of the company sions by 2050 and to achieve this, we had promised to put our first carbon neutral vessel on the water by 2030. We recently announced that we will, in fact, be seven years ahead of schedule for the carbon neutral vessel as we will oper- ate world’s first carbon neutral liner as early as in 2023.” For Cook, his proudest moment at Maersk has been leading the UAE busi- ness through it’s transformation into becoming a global integrator. “We have brought together several brands under one roof, re-oriented the direction of our business, and unified the vision - whilst continuing to run our business. Ultimately this has been as a result of the great teams that I have worked with, who have also been con- sistent in delivering growth and contin- ued to put a focus around understanding what our customers want and striving to develop those solutions. The business growth is a testimony that our efforts have paid off in the right way,” he said.INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS | POWER LIST 31LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.comPOWER LIST | INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS 32JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Farooq Ahmad Shaikh is the CEO of LogiPoint, a Logistics Real Estate company located in Jeddah, KSA. LogiPoint serves the logistics and supply chain industry as the region’s leading in- tegrated logistics hub and interna- tional supply chain platform. Shaikh started his professional journey in 1999 with the A.P. Moller Group, when he joined the prestigious MISE program as a management trainee. Over the next ten years, he delivered impressive re- sults in various senior leadership posi- tions with Maersk Line and A.P. Moller Terminals across multiple locations, including Pakistan, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and KSA. Before joining LogiPoint in 2018, Shaikh spent ten years in the Kingdom holding C-level leadership roles with the Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) and the Tadawul-listed holding company SISCO. He was part of the core leadership team, making the SAR 2.63 billion state- of-the-art RSGT a reality. As Group CFO, SISCO, he provided financial direction and strategic leadership to the group and its many subsidiaries. At LogiPoint, Farooq Shaikh has over- seen the company’s transformation from a bonded zone providing logistics services into an award-winning and in- ternationally recognised multi-faceted logistics real estate company, which is developing and operating bonded zones, logistics parks and economic zones in the Kingdom. Shaikh believes that the industry has evolved rapidly since he began his pro- fessional journey and that this pace will further accelerate in the future. Success, he believes, will come to those who con- stantly innovate to build the next gen- eration of logistics solutions and who deliver quality and consistency today while keeping an eye on the future. Cit- ing the example of how well LogiPoint have been responding to operational and compliance challenges arising out of COVID-19 since last year, he says that true market leaders must quickly over- come international competition and up- heavals like a global pandemic or regional conflicts. Farooq underlines LogiPoint’s commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 goal of transforming the Kingdom into a futuristic supply chain and logistics hub in the region. Farooq obtained his MBA from IBA Karachi, Pakistan, followed up his MISE certification with an ACCA from Glas- gow, UK; and a CFA from Charlottesville, USA; and is an alumni of a management program of IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. About LogiPoint LogiPoint is a logistics real estate compa- ny based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which started operations as the country’s first Bonded and Re-Export Zone (BRZ) in 1999. It has since grown to become an award-winning international logistics hub operating a network of integrated logistics parks and zones in the Kingdom. Briefly, the LogiPoint projects can be listed as follows: • Bonded and Re-Export Zone (BRZ) built over one million square metres of reclaimed land inside the Jeddah Islamic Port in 1999. Introduced the concepts of bonded storage, value- added services and deferred duty payments to the Kingdom. Offers pre- built warehousing clusters, built-to- suit facilities, container yards, reefer yards, and open storage yards sup- plemented by elaborate value-added services. Currently, LogiPoint is ac- cepting bookings for units in Ware- house Cluster 5, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. • Jeddah Logistics Hub (JLH), a 120,000 sqm logistics platform, which acts as a one-stop location enabling Industrial Area users to optimise and streamline their logistics operations. Offers gated community with truck parking and 24/7 security, in addition to a state of the art pre-built and built- LOGIPOINT, A SAUDI SUPPLY CHAIN LEADER Farooq Ahmad Shaikh, CEO of LogiPoint, has driven the company forward to-suit warehousing supported by all necessary amenities to streamline ef- ficient operations for the factories and 3PL companies. • Jeddah Logistics Park, 314,000 Sqm divided between warehouses, staff accommodation, truck parking, com- mercial strip and located at a strate- gic area in South Jeddah, which will act as a value creation platform that enables LogiPoint clients to set and achieve ambitious targets in speed, efficiency and operational excellence in their supply chain. • Under Built-to-Suit Facilities (BTS), LogiPoint provides dedi- cated, large-scale warehousing and distribution facilities for their clients’ built-in line with LogiPoint’s high- quality standards but according to the design and specifications defined by the client. Shaikh expects demand for BTS Solu- tions to grow steadily: “The truly global logistics client has become extremely so- phisticated. Logistics operations are now both a science and an art, where efficiency, waste-elimination, speed and accuracy all combine with the specific handling re- quirements of each kind of business to dictate the design and development of a logistics facility. Tailor-made, high-quality facilities are the best way for our clients to ensure optimal return on their supply chain investment. This is why we offer BTS across all of our projects – whether inside BRZ or Jeddah Logistics Hub or Jeddah South, depending on what works best for a given client.”INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS | POWER LIST 33LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com 20 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH LEADING SALOODO! TO A BRIGHT FUTURE Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, walks us through his experiences at Etihad Aviation Group Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, joined Etihad 16 years ago and has more than 20 years of experience in aviation and logistics. The aviation industry has come a long way in that 20 years, however, Drew says that he has seen the most signifi cant changes in the past 12 months. The pandemic has accelerated the rate of innovation and adoption of new technology, and it’s been inspiring to Drew to see just how quickly the industry has been able to adapt in an ever-changing environment. Tobias Maier, Chief Executive Officer, Saloodo!, Middle East and Africa and Chief Financial Officer, DHL Global Forwarding, Middle East and Africa, is the visionary behind the company’s rapid expansion As CEO for digital freight platform, Saloodo! in the Middle East and Africa, Maier leads Saloodo!’s rapid expansion and penetration in addition to his role as CFO of DHL Global Forwarding in the region. Since 2019, he has successfully launched Saloodo! across more than 20 countries, so that shippers can now rely on a network of over 15,000 trucks for their road freight needs. This is especially crucial Etihad Cargo has played an extremely vital role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a long history of unprecedented growth, it is apt that it is a crucial member of the HOPE Consortium, delivering life- saving vaccinations to countries situated across the globe. “We’ve delivered emergency aid and critical medical supplies around the world, and as part of the HOPE Consortium, we’ve facilitated the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine globally. More than anything, though, I am so proud of my team; they have redefined what it means to be agile and responsive, reacting quickly in an ever-changing and completely new environment. They’ve worked around the clock and enabled us to keep the world connected in a time when people needed us most. As an airline, we developed a world-leading wellness proposition, Etihad Wellness, making wellness a part of our DNA,” stated Drew. “Having joined Etihad a year after the airline’s inception, I am very fortunate to have witnessed the unprecedented growth, the development of a globally recognised brand and to be part of the when moving essential goods across territories where road is the key transportation conduit. Passionate about digitalisation and its role in transforming the logistics sector, Maier leads the charge to create a road freight marketplace that translates into income growth for drivers, affordable costs for shippers, and more reliable, faster and greener logistics for all. By effectively matching demand and supply using digital tools, Saloodo! is on track to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to Deutsche Post DHL Group’s target for net-zero emissions logistics by 2050. Maier has been with the Deutsche Post DHL Group for more than a decade, and has worked across various DHL divisions across three continents in finance and management roles. one of the best airlines in the world… This is an industry I’m really passionate about – I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Drew noted.POWER LIST | INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS 34JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com AHOY started in 2018 with the mission to disrupt the logis- tics and mobility industries through innovative core technology in both the software and IoT hardware sectors. According to AHOY CEO and Co- Founder, Jamil Shinawi, the global pandemic has affirmed the need for e- commerce. More companies have started putting their businesses online, including cold chain products. However, the indus- try is in dire need of updated solutions that overcome the issues inherent in the MENA region, including delivery convenience. “The growing demand for perishable products and rapid delivery require- ments associated with food and pharma e-commerce business in the MENA region has given a significant boost to cold chain operations. Technology will play a central role to strengthen the cold chain and fulfill this demand in an efficient, secure and sustainable manner,” said Shinawi. During the last year, through COVID, AHOY has been very proud to have ena- bled its merchants to reach their custom- ers in record times and with record suc- cess rates 24/7, 365 days a year. The company achieved this through the technology that enables it to plan and execute operations with minimal human intervention. According to Shinawi, this is a far cry from other players in the mar- ket that usually have a significantly larger operations support team for managing the company’s activities. “We are one of the very few companies that use and leverage our own IoT hard- ware to enhance the movement experi- ence by capturing real-time information, such as temperature, humidity, location, etc.,” Shinawi said. “Unlike other players, we don’t rely on external mapping ser- vices such as Google Maps, etc. We have our own routing technology that is more relevant for MENA region. Further, we don’t have any real estate, e.g., warehouses, collection hubs, etc. for our movement & distribution operations.” All of the company’s success has been achieved by leveraging its unconven- tional technology and innovating the standard frameworks deployed by the industry players. The logistics technology is moving fast towards integration and providing cus- tomers efficient and secure services. The integration goes beyond the first, middle and last-mile delivery to include payment, insurance, and other industry services. SOME OF OUR KEY SUCCESS STORIES HAVE BEEN AROUND THE GROWTH IN OUR TEAM, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AVIATION SECTOR IN KSA, THE IMPACT/COST-SAVINGS WE BRING TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE,” CEO & CO-FOUNDER, AHOY, JAMIL SHINAWI LEADING THE DELIVERY BUSINESS CEO & Co-Founder, AHOY, Jamil Shinawi, explains how AHOY has put technology at the forefront of its operations to ensure customer success Shinawi believes that AI and ML will play a vital role in the future of logistics and play a significant role in innovative business models such as dark warehouses, cloud kitchens, etc. “Our wide range of product offerings have been designed to create a new stand- ard in the logistics technology space and lead the industry in adopting new solu- tions. These solutions include eliminating of multiple product handlings, and ena- bling easy integrations, predictive analysis, and more,” he said. Since Shinawi joined the company, it has had several key milestones and has consistently surpassed expectations and growth plans every quarter since becom- ing operational 12 months ago. “Some of our key success stories have been around the growth in our team, our partnership with the aviation sector in KSA, the impact/cost-savings we bring to our customers and our industry as a whole,” Shinawi concluded.INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS | POWER LIST 35LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES THRIVING TRADE AT TRADELING OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AS A TEAM LEADING WITH PASSION Houssam Mahmoud CEO - Agility Abu Dhabi, proudly discusses the adaptability of the company even in the face of this global pandemic Houssam Mahmoud, CEO, Agility Abu Dhabi, fi rst joined he company in 2005 for six years and then rejoined the company in January 2020. “After 25 years of experi- ence working in the corporate world, Agility’s entrepreneur- ial spirit and focus on emerg- ing market has always been a source of inspiration for me. Over the years, Agility has built a great team of professionals. The company and its employ- ees have always been forward Marius Ciavola, CEO, Tradeling, notes how the company has grown and thrived in an underserved sector The unprecedented challenges brought on by the global pan- demic has necessitated the drive to a new model of retail, one that is driven online, according to Marius Ciavola, CEO, Tradeling. “E-commerce and technolo- gy are two sectors that are likely to outpace others in the com- ing years and we firmly believe that B2B e-commerce is one of the upcoming megatrends in a borderless, contactless world of trade,” he stated. The need to solve many chal- Ahmed Aljemaiei, CEO of Posta Plus Group, notes the resilience of the company and the strength of its team is key to its success Ahmed Aljemaiei, CEO of Posta Plus Group, joined the company in 2015, and during the last ten tears of his career and six years at Posta Plus, he has seen massive industry changes. “In the past ten years the in- dustry fluctuations and upscaling of services that has been going on around the globe is astonish- ing. There is a high increase in demand for personalised shop- ping. The industry went from B2B to B2C and finally C2C, giv- ing everyone the ability to be an Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, is a strong, talented leader The CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa since 2017, Diallo is a highly tal- ented leader who leads a 4000-strong team with pas- sion and grit. Encouraging collaboration and trust is a hallmark of his leadership style as he believes that the best team leads to excellent results for customers. Diallo equally embodies DHL’s purpose of ‘Connecting People, Improving Lives’ by lev- eraging its global network and expertise to ensure resilient supply chains throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Amadou looking adaptable to industry, region and global challenges,” said Mahmoud. “We’re most proud of the way we’ve been able to support the UAE in its recovery. Through Agility’s global network, and especially our presence in China, we have been able to secure and move medical equipment, PPE and vaccines for the UAE – for ex- ample, we moved 7,500 cbm of PPE from China to the UAE for SEHA. Our ability to keep cargo moving during this crisis is what my team and I are most proud of,” he stated. lenges in B2B e-commerce is what attracted Ciavola to en- ter into the logistics space. Ac- cording to Ciavola, the sector is relatively new and underserved in this region. “We saw an opportunity to create something bespoke to the region and better cater to cus- tomers’ needs,” he said. “What we have achieved in the past year and a half is incredible. We are well on our way to reach- ing our mission of becoming the main search and sourcing tool for buyers across the region.” entrepreneur from the comfort of their homes - while we do all the heavy lifting!” he stated. The past year has been a challenge for the entire logis- tics and supply chain industry, from end to end. For Posta Plus and the industry as a whole, it has been a roller-coaster and a costly learning curve. “My outstanding team I have around me, creating, in- novating and overcoming all hurdles whilst pushing me to grow and have faith in the soul of our company, keeps me mo- tivated every second of every day,” Aljemaiei noted. has held several senior manage- ment roles within Deutsche Post DHL Group, from CEO of DHL Freight in Europe to CEO of DHL Global Forwarding South Asia Pacific, to name a few. He led the merger of Exel and DHL, which remains the most significant corporate integra- tion in the logistics industry. A digitalisation champion, Ama- dou founded digital road freight solution Saloodo! in 2017 to in- ject transparency, visibility and efficiency, and the platform has expanded from Europe to MEA.POWER LIST | INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS 36JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com What distinguishes Emir- ates Post from others is its local, regional, and international network. It is the largest domestic UAE service provider with more than 90 customer happiness centres and an extensive daily line-haul network across all seven emirates. Its international reach spans over 190 countries thanks to its access to the global postal network. “We recently set up a 33,475 sq. ft fa- cility at EZDubai, the fully dedicated e- commerce zone. It is our second largest sorting and delivery centre in the UAE and is expected to handle over 25 per cent of total P&E business volumes over the next three years. We have a total of thirteen delivery centres, thirteen hyperlocal loca- tions, and two main sorting centres,” stated Peter Somers, CEO Emirates Post. “Last year we opened our second international operations hub in Dubai International Airport, providing global e-commerce, parcel, and logistics brands access to the UAE, KSA, and regional markets and vice versa in a fast, consistent, and cost-effective way. We have strengthened our operational network and workforce capabilities and with our local and international expertise we are able to further promote the UAE as a seamless gateway and strategic logistics hub facilitating cross-border e-commerce traffic into the UAE and Middle East region with convenient and tailored solutions.” As a company undergoing transforma- tion, Emirates Post’s strategy focuses on capitalising on its strength as the official postal operator and leading express pro- vider in the UAE. By enhancing its offer- ings, operational capabilities, and team structures, and by adopting digitisation, new systems, and improved processes, the company is building trust and delivering on customer happiness and business potential. “Dedicated to establishing a future-driv- en business, changes were implemented to our organisational structure. Three business units were created to manage the diverse aspects of our core business – Retail, Parcels & Express (P&E), and In- ternational. The Retail unit provides gen- eral postal services for UAE citizens. The P&E unit offers delivery, pick-up, returns and fulfillment of parcels and courier ser- vices, and the International unit provides a global B2C Parcel Business leveraging the UAE as a GCC hub,” Somers noted. “Our internal process transformation, the invest- ments made thus far in digital solutions, and operational capabilities [drivers, fleet, and facilities] have allowed us to maintain cost-efficiencies, increase convenience, and diversify our products. We are, and will continue to, gain market-share especially in our P&E and International business.” Emirates Post’s 2021 Q1 performance exceeded 2020 Q1 results by 35 per cent with strong growth in its International and P&E businesses. EMIRATES POST IS ONE OF THE FIRST POSTAL ENTITIES IN THE WORLD TO HAVE ALL ELIGIBLE CUSTOMER-FACING STAFF FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS AND THIS MILESTONE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO CON- TRIBUTE TOWARDS A SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND SAFE CUSTOMER INTERAC- TION.” PETER SOMERS, CEO EMIRATES POST POSTAL LEADER - BUILDING A GLOBALLY RECOGNISED LAST-MILE PARTNER Peter Somers, CEO Emirates Post, looks at the evolution of Emirates Post from delivering letters to Amazon’s premiere MENA last-mile partner A testament to the company’s last-mile success is its partnership with the e- commerce giant Amazon. Within a year of being their main delivery provider in the UAE, Emirates Post was recognised as the best performing last-mile partner in the Middle East and North Africa. According to Somers, its achievements are the result of the collaboration, hard work, and dedication of Emirates Post’s employees. Their efforts to adapting its capacities, op- erations, and processes allow the company to deliver on exceptional customer service. “Emirates Post is one of the first postal entities in the world to have all eligible cus- tomer-facing staff fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and this milestone would not have been possible without their sup- port and willingness to contribute towards a safe work environment and safe customer interaction,” said Somers. Somers anticipates Emirates Post will be a full blown postal, courier, and logistics com- pany leading the last-mile in the UAE, and cross-border e-commerce traffic in the re- gion within the next few years, and says that the adoption of hybrid delivery solutions, increased PUDO locations, Parcel Lockers, and the use of new technology for last-mile deliveries is in the future for the company. “Our goal is twofold: to maintain the con- fidence of our domestic and international customers [individuals and corporates] in our products and services by delivering the most accessible, user-friendly, reliable, and steadfast solutions and, to ensure we provide a conducive environment for the wellness and betterment of our employees, nurturing their trust, rewarding their performance, and affirming our company’s position as a great place to work,” stated Somers.SUPPLY CHAIN CHAMPIONS | POWER LIST 37LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.comPOWER LIST | SUPPLY CHAIN CHAMPIONS 38JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Saleh Mansour’s journey with Fe- dEx began 33 years ago. Mansour, an engineering graduate, started as a part-time handler in Los An- geles, United States. “While I was employed part time, I ap- plied for an open position in New York within FedEx. I was interviewed based on my skills, knowledge, and competency, and was selected for the role, moving into a permanent position within the company,” Mansour said. During his time at the company, he has seen tremendous change, most notably the revo- lution that digitisation and automation have brought. In the past, most business processes in the logistics industry were managed manu- ally. Orders were faxed and confirmed over the phone or by email. Customers preferred visiting a physical store to shop. “Today, the shopping experience, and the logistics industry has evolved beyond our imagination, and is dependent on technolo- gy-driven innovations. Emerging technolo- gies like robotics, automation, augmented reality and data analytics are steadily becom- ing part of our last-mile deliveries, tracking processes, and warehouse operations. The e-commerce boom has also contributed to the evolution of the logistics industry, chang- ing the way we do business as more and more people turn to shopping online for its convenience,” noted Mansour. The pandemic FedEx has played a massive role in mitigat- ing the COVID pandemic, moving tons of critical medical supplies and vaccines across the globe, as well as keeping the economy and trade moving, despite the enormous challenges. Most recently, FedEx delivered oxygen concentrators, medicines and per- sonal protective equipment to India, which is struggling with a surge in COVID cases. “I’m especially proud of our dedicated team of couriers and drivers, who have been on the front line throughout the pandemic, moving not just pharmaceuticals, but person- al protective equipment, and other essential items that have kept businesses operating and our home lives functioning throughout these unprecedented times,” stated Mansour. Challenges Changes in regulations and adjusting to op- erational updates, such as temporary clo- sures of airport runways for maintenance, are challenging for the industry. When such situations arise, all hands are on deck, and FedEx works closely with local authorities on contingency plans to minimise the im- pact on our service and continue to meet customer needs. “I have achieved much in my 33 years with WHILE I WAS EMPLOYED PART TIME, I APPLIED FOR AN OPEN POSITION IN NEW YORK WITHIN FEDEX. I WAS INTERVIEWED BASED ON MY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMPETENCY, AND WAS SELECTED FOR THE ROLE, MOVING INTO A PERMANENT POSITION WITHIN THE COMPANY.” SALEH MANSOUR, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS, FEDEX EXPRESS. AN INSPIRING JOURNEY Saleh Mansour, Managing Director for Middle East Operations, FedEx Express, has had a meteoric rise through the company, we follow his journey FedEx. One of my biggest accomplishments is introducing multiple FedEx flights and transforming the operations at our Dubai hub, which is the regional hub for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa region. Thanks to my team, these efforts have helped us position Dubai as one of the key hubs in our global network,” Mansour stated. Built over 48 years, the FedEx global net- work consists of more than 5,000 facilities, 680 aircraft, 200,000 motorised vehicles, and more than 570,000 dedicated team members worldwide. “We operate across 220 countries and ter- ritories and connect 99 per cent of global GDP. The strength of our network allows us to pick up a package from almost any part of the world and deliver it to another continent in a matter of days. We sort and process over 18 million shipments per day, and continually look for ways to enhance our services to match the needs of our cus- tomers,” Mansour concluded.SUPPLY CHAIN CHAMPIONS | POWER LIST 39LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com PRIME TIME FOR MENA Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East and North Africa, discusses Amazon’s growth and wins in the MENA region. Amazon launched Amazon. ae in May 2019 after acquiring and rebranding SOUQ.com. Amazon. sa followed in 2020. Ronaldo Mouchawar, now Vice President, Amazon Middle East and North Africa, was a founder of SOUQ.com and, with the acquisition, was able to transition into Amazon. “With both transitions, we brought world-class technology, best practices and learnings to the local market. Since the launch, we have been able to bring customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia millions of products locally and from other markets such as Amazon US and UK,” noted Mouchawar. “In an industry that evolves so quickly, it’s important to remain ahead. At Amazon, we always talk about it being Day One which means that we constantly act like a start-up – being obsessed with the customer, focusing on results over process, making decisions quickly and embracing trends quickly.” In April 2021, Amazon MENA announced that UAE Prime members could shop a wide selection of products eligible for Prime Free Same-Day Delivery on orders over AED100 to get what they need right to their doorsteps quicker than ever before. At the start of 2021, Amazon MENA launched its Prime service in Saudi Arabia. This offers tremendous value in terms of benefits, such as free one- day delivery in certain areas, access to popular entertainment with Arabic subtitles and dubbing on Prime Video, exclusive deals and video games with Prime Gaming. “Speed of delivery will remain a key focus and we will continue to innovate on behalf of our customers to provide them with a safe, fast and convenient shopping experience,” stated Mouchawar. “AT AMAZON, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT BEING DAY ONE WHICH MEANS THAT WE CONSTANTLY ACT LIKE A START-UP – BEING OBSESSED WITH THE CUSTOMER, FOCUS- ING ON RESULTS OVER PRO- CESS, MAKING DECISIONS QUICKLY AND EMBRACING TRENDS QUICKLY.” RONALDO MOUCHAWAR, VICE PRESI- DENT, AMAZON MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA. You have read all of your free articles for the month Already subscribed? 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