Effective September 1, Peter Bardens will oversee Asia Pacific's air network and ground operations at DHL Express. He takes over from Sean Wall, who will manage global ground operations, effective January 1, 2025.
Bardens brings extensive experience managing ground operations in Europe to lead the Asia-Pacific region's aviation network and ground operations. He will also join the DHL Express Asia Pacific Management Board.
“Peter Bardens has a proven track record of delivering results and driving operational excellence in Europe. His competence in operations planning and people-first leadership approach will be instrumental to bolstering our Asia-Pacific network and meeting our customer demands," said Ken Lee, CEO, Asia Pacific, DHL Express.
In his new role, Bardens will head the ground and aviation network in Asia Pacific, consisting of more than 25 freighters, 7,200 pick-up and delivery vehicles, and 1,100 facilities. The facilities form a connected system of 50 gateways and three main hubs in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore, with approximately 710 flights passing through per day. The network is integral to transporting and delivering thousands of cross-border shipments daily between Asia Pacific and the rest of the world.
“Asia Pacific's logistics is highly demanding. I am honoured to lead and guide the passionate and adaptable team here that has constantly shown a positive attitude to operate and deliver with precision, and relentless efficiency. I am confident that my vast network and ground operations planning background will help guide the team to navigate this landscape's ever-evolving market demands,” said Bardens.
Prior to taking up the new appointment, Bardens served as DHL Express’s vice president of ground operations, Europe, where he oversaw the Cologne-Bonn and Paris-Charles de Gaulle hubs. Under his leadership, these facilities underwent significant improvements in safety, service quality, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Bardens was also instrumental in the investments and development infrastructure in Europe, while aligning operational requirements with legislative changes in the region.
