Jens Wollesen to join Hellmann as COO

BLG Logistics director and former Kühne + Nagel senior executive Jens Wollesen is to become a member of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics’ management board from 1 January 2022, taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) alongside Reiner Heiken (CEO) and Martin Eberle (CFO).

In the new management board position, he will hold responsibility for the four product segments Air, Sea, Road & Rail and Contract Logistics, as well as IT & Digital, Hellmann said, in what marks a new structure for the major European freight and logistics organisation. 

As Chief Executive Officer, Reiner Heiken will continue to lead the six regions of the Hellmann Group alongside HR, Sales, Corporate Development and Marketing & Communications. Serving as CFO since 1 March 2021, Martin Eberle is responsible for the Finance organization as well as Insurance and Legal & Compliance. 

Hellmann said the appointment of Jens Wollesen by the supervisory board and the reallocation of responsibilities “will significantly strengthen the management board. Hellmann is thus creating the conditions for a stronger focus on the respective areas of responsibility in order to achieve its ambitious growth targets.” 

It continued: “By recruiting Jens Wollesen, Hellmann gains a proven and internationally experienced logistics expert. Mr. Wollesen, an industrial engineer, was a member of BLG Logistics Group’s Executive Board for the past five years, responsible for the contract logistics division. Before joining BLG, he was a member of the management team of Kühne + Nagel Germany and Central Europe for 12 years, as well as a long-standing member of the Management Board of Stute Logistics. Jens Wollesen started his career as an apprentice at J.H. Bachmann in Bremen.”   

Thomas Lieb, chairman of the supervisory board of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, commented: “As part of the global growth strategy ‘Fit4Growth’, we have defined a detailed plan for Hellmann until 2025, which we are now implementing. To tackle the associated tasks in a focused manner in both the operational and strategic areas, we have expanded and strengthened the Management Board with Jens Wollesen, a proven expert. 

“Mr. Wollesen has extensive experience not only in the operational logistics business, but also in the areas of digitalization and innovation management – two topics that play a central role in Hellmann’s growth strategy. With Jens Wollesen’s entry into Hellmann, we achieve an improved split of responsibilities, thus allowing all board members to focus more on their core areas and, in particular, our customers and employees.” 

Since its foundation 150 years ago, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has developed into one of Eureope’s largest international logistics providers. In 2019, the Hellmann Group achieved sales of around €2.4 billion with 10,743 employees.