VOLGA-DNEPR AIRLINES AND BOLLORE LOGISTICS NICE HELP TO DISCOVER ‘IS THERE LIFE ON MARS?’

VOLGA-DNEPR AIRLINES AND BOLLORE LOGISTICS NICE HELP TO DISCOVER ‘IS THERE LIFE ON MARS?’

Volga-Dnepr Airlines has operated three An-124-100 cargo flights for global logistics company Bollore Logistics carrying equipment and materials for the ExoMars space exploration programme that aims to discover any traces of life on Mars.

The flights, which operated on December 18, 20 and 22 for consignor, Thales Alenia Space Italia, departed from Turin in Italy to Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome via Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

Volga-Dnepr’s cargo included the Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstration module (EDM) as well as the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which will be launched into space in the first mission in March 2016. In total, Volga-Dnepr transported 20 x 20-foot containers, including two ‘hi-cube’ containers with materials for the ExoMars project launch campaign, loose cargo and a satellite container. Each of the flights commenced loading at 0900hrs and departed from Turin Airport at 1530hrs on their way to the Russian consignee, FGUP TsENKI, which provides launch services for the space industry.   

ExoMars is a joint programme between the European Space Agency and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos. The 2016 mission will reach Mars in October and aims to demonstrate Europe’s ability to land a probe on the Red Planet. Meanwhile, the Orbiter will help to determine the landing site for the second mission in 2018 when the descent module will place a rover on Mars to drill down two metres into the Martian soil to take samples and perhaps discover any traces of life. The data captured by the probe is expected to feed the work of researchers for many years to come as they analyse the soil’s chemical, physical and biological properties.

This, however, is not Volga-Dnepr’s first ‘Mars mission’. In November 2011, the airline transported major parts of the launch vehicle for NASA’s most ambitious ‘Curiosity’ rover mission to Mars. In support of the mission, a Volga-Dnepr An-124-100 freighter delivered the Atlas V launch system, part of the Atlas rocket family operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture, United Launch Alliance, from Huntsville, Alabama, to Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Dennis Gliznoutsa, Vice President, Sales at Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: “We are extremely proud to once again be the chosen air transportation partner for what could be a historic mission to Mars. We are excited to be part of the project and will be closely following the results of the first mission in 2016. We wish all of the partners in ExoMars great success in their endeavours.”      

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is one of the world’s leading carriers of Aerospace cargoes, which account for some 30% of the Group’s business. To date, it has operated over 5,250 flights for customers in the industry, delivering more than 173,395 tonnes. The main cargoes carried by Volga-Dnepr are satellites, helicopters, aircraft and parts.

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CAROL KIJAC JOINS SEKO LOGISTICS AS CHIEF SALES OFFICER

CAROL KIJAC JOINS SEKO LOGISTICS AS CHIEF SALES OFFICER

Carol Kijac has been appointed Chief Sales Officer of SEKO Logistics to drive the next phase of its global expansion by continuing to identify and deliver more value in its customers’ supply chains.

Based at the company’s headquarters in Chicago and reporting to SEKO Logistics’ CEO, William J. Wascher, Carol’s appointment is timed to build on another strong year of growth for SEKO Logistics in 2015 with its revenues for the U.S., UK and China alone exceeding $525 million. It also comes just eight months after SEKO selected New York-based Greenbriar Equity Group as its new equity partner to help implement its global growth strategy, both organically and through acquisitions.

Carol spent over 17 years of her career with Expeditors, ultimately as Vice President Sales & Marketing, The Americas. During this time she helped to grow annual net revenue contribution from $15 million in 1999 to $500 million in 2012. Before joining Expeditors, at the start of her career she spent two years with UTi working in route development, regional sales and as a national accounts manager.

Prior to taking up her new post with SEKO Logistics, Carol was the Principal of Peripheral Vision LLC, providing sales and business process consulting for global service organisations. At SEKO she is responsible for global, local and strategic sales as well as marketing and sales training.   

Commenting on the appointment, William J. Wascher said: “Carol’s track record, particularly at Expeditors, speaks for itself and we are delighted that she has chosen to lead our sales and marketing at such an exciting time for our global business. Her ‘solve versus sell’ approach is a perfect fit for SEKO’s business model. Using our service capability and unique, customizable technology, Carol will lead our client acquisition and development with the emphasis on building sustainable customer partnerships. She is highly respected in the industry and by customers for her ability to understand the complexities of the supply chain. She understands the language of the customer and will help us to further align SEKO and our great solutions to identify and deliver more value to our customers.”       

Carol Kijac added: “I’m looking forward to leading the company’s sales and growth strategy because of the talent of the SEKO organization and the creative solutions they’ve developed for their customers, both from a technology and service perspective.  I am extremely excited to be part of this dynamic and award-winning team.”

      

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About SEKO Logistics

We provide a suite of logistics services which enable you to use your supply chain as a competitive differentiator. As a customer centric organization, we are powered by the expertise of our people and our in-house-developed, best in class, customizable technology. It is this combination which gives SEKO its strength. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, SEKO’s unique shareholder management model enables you to benefit from our specific industry sector expertise, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and unparalleled service at the local level. This unique model provides you with:

• Hands-on service and support
• Personal relationships
• Creative, customized solutions
• Responsiveness and reliability
• Flexibility and consistence

We have a flat management structure, with just three layers between you and the CEO, making us ‘fast on our feet’ in delivering solutions that can meet your exact requirements. This lean and nimble structure increases our decision-making speed and gives us an ability to implement customized solutions which far exceed those of our competitors. For more information visit our website www.sekologistics.com

SEKO Logistics names a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2016

SEKO Logistics named a Multichannel Merchant 

Top 3PL for 2016

SEKO Logistics has been named a Multichannel Merchant (MCM) Top 3PL for 2016, recognizing the growing importance of logistics and transportation in ecommerce and marketplaces and how they are adding value to the retail supply chain.

Multichannel Merchant reaches key decision-makers responsible for ecommerce, management, marketing and operations at companies that sell merchandise through multiple channels — including ecommerce, mobile, social, and catalog. With the growth of ecommerce and the number of 3PLs growing, MCM felt it was important to designate 3PLs that were ecommerce qualified and experienced. 

It has now produced an online resource with a searchable database for merchants looking for expert third-party ecommerce fulfillment and logistics services providers. Merchants will be able to see each service provider’s featured capabilities, ideal client types, equipment and systems, contact information and more. 

Mark White, Chief Commercial Officer at SEKO Logistics, said: “We know that Multichannel Merchant conducted an extensive review and analysis process in order to qualify Top 3PL companies for 2016 and it’s a real coup for us to be in its first-ever listing. Retail is our biggest and fast-growing customer sector and this award reflects the increasingly vital role transport and logistics companies are playing as outsourced partners in a market that grew by over 25% last year and saw global consumers spend over $1.6 trillion online.”   

This is SEKO Logistics’ third such award in the past six months. In 2015, it was ranked in the top 10 logistics service providers in Inbound Logistics’ annual Top 100 3PL Providers list for the second consecutive year following an evaluation of more than 300 companies. It was also recognized as the highest ranking freight forwarder for customer service for the second year in a row in the prestigious Quest for Quality Awards determined by over 4,500 logistics, transportation and supply chain decision-maker readers of Logistics Management magazine.   

SEKO Logistics’ Omni-Channel Logistics services are built around a network of multi-user logistics sites in the U.S., Asia and Europe which allows e-tailers and retailers to outsource their entire ecommerce-focused global fulfillment, delivery management, returns solutions and ecommerce development and design alongside international logistics.

The SEKO Omni-Channel Logistics division combines a complete shipping, logistics and distribution solution with ecommerce website design expertise and innovative business software, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain  Management (SCM), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transport Management Systems (TMS).

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About Multichannel Merchant  

MULTICHANNEL MERCHANT reaches key decision makers responsible for ecommerce, management, marketing and operations at companies that sell merchandise through multiple channels — including ecommerce, mobile, social, and catalog. Multichannel Merchant delivers original research, as well as in-depth analysis of trends and best practices, news, tactical/how-to, executive summaries, technology and supplier comparisons, tip sheets and resource information to help companies sell & deliver products wherever and whenever the customer wants them – at home, work, store or other locations.

About SEKO Logistics

We provide a suite of logistics services which enable you to use your supply chain as a competitive differentiator. As a customer centric organization, we are powered by the expertise of our people and our in-house-developed, best in class, customizable technology. It is this combination which gives SEKO its strength. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, SEKO’s unique shareholder management model enables you to benefit from our specific industry sector expertise, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and unparalleled service at the local level. This unique model provides you with:

• Hands-on service and support
• Personal relationships
• Creative, customized solutions
• Responsiveness and reliability
• Flexibility and consistence

We have a flat management structure, with just three layers between you and the CEO, making us ‘fast on our feet’ in delivering solutions that can meet your exact requirements. This lean and nimble structure increases our decision-making speed and gives us an ability to implement customized solutions which far exceed those of our competitors. For more information visit our website www.sekologistics.com

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) to acquire Consolidated Aviation Services

WORLDWIDE FLIGHT SERVICES TO ACQUIRE CONSOLIDATED AVIATION SERVICES

Complementary acquisition to expand WFS presence in U.S. cargo handling market

PARIS (January 11, 2016) – Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the world’s largest air cargo handler and one of the leading providers of airline ground handling and technical services, announced today an agreement to acquire Consolidated Aviation Services (CAS). Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.  

CAS, headquartered in New York, is one of the leading cargo handlers in the United States, serving over 250 airline customers. WFS, which was acquired by Platinum Equity in September 2015, is present at over 145 major airports in more than 22 countries on five continents. WFS serves 300 airlines globally, including the handling of over four million tons of cargo and 50 million airline passengers per annum.

Olivier Bijaoui, Executive Chairman, President and CEO of WFS, said: “The proposed acquisition will not only create a unique organization in the United States that combines the best of both companies, but will also reinforce WFS’ position as one of the world’s premier cargo handlers.  I know Mike Duffy, President & CEO of CAS, and the CAS team well, have worked with many of them before, and have a great deal of respect for what they have accomplished. The success of CAS is a testament to the hard work of its employees, and the combination will create one of the most knowledgeable and experienced teams in this industry.”

Bastian Lueken, head of Platinum Equity’s European investment team, said: “We are delivering on our pledge to support the profitable growth of WFS by pursuing complementary, accretive add-on acquisitions which present immediate synergies.”

In November 2015, WFS also completed its acquisition of a 51% shareholding in Fraport Cargo Services, confirming its strategic partnership with Fraport AG for airfreight handling at Frankfurt Airport, one of the world’s most important cargo gateways. FCS is the largest airline-independent cargo handling provider at the airport and handles about 500,000 tonnes of airfreight per year for some 40 airline customers.

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About WFS
Founded in 1971, WFS (www.wfs.aero) is the world’s largest cargo handler and a leading global provider of ground handling and technical services with annual revenues of €750 million. It employs 14,000 staff and is present at over 145 major airports in more than 22 countries on five continents, serving 50 million passengers and handling over four million tonnes of cargo per annum for 300 airline customers.

About Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com) is a global investment firm with more than $6 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 30 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O^® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 20 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 175 acquisitions.