Supply Chain Company: Appointment Of New Southeast Asia Director Of Operations Reinforces TNT's Network Strategy
TNT Express, one of the leading express delivery companies, 
has promoted Chris Spanjaard to Director of Operations, Southeast Asia. The appointment reinforces the company's global strategy to build extensive networks to strengthen the region's connectivity to Europe and within Asia, a key strategic initiative to achieve TNT's global ambition of 10 to 15 per cent revenue growth for 2007.
"A robust and extensive infrastructure forms the very basis of our ability to provide customers a range of solutions to meet their specific business requirements. Chris joins us with extensive experience in network operations. He previously worked for TNT's European mail network and helped establish TNT's China network capabilities," said Onno Boots, Regional Managing Director, TNT Southeast Asia.
Onno added, "The Asia business environment is becoming more and more sophisticated and increasingly we are seeing a demand for highly integrated services. The ASEAN economies alone represent approximately 500 million people and a combined GDP of more than US$800 billion per annum. This presents tremendous opportunities for business expansion. Intra-regional trade constitutes over 40 per cent of Asia's total trading volume and it is in this area we will be focusing strongly on. TNT will grow its domestic and regional capabilities in emerging Southeast Asian markets and facilitate companies' access to other international markets."
Focus on Networks: TNT's Key Strategic Focus in Asia and Europe
To strengthen the company's intra-Asian and domestic networks, TNT is expanding its Asia Road Network to reach China through north-eastern border of Vietnam by end-2007. When completed, it will cover almost 60 per cent of the region and link over 120 cities across 4,000 km, offering customers significant savings of up to 30 per cent compared to air freight.
In addition, the acquisition of Speedage in India and Hoau in China last year has also increased the number of depots and vehicles in the region by more than 1,200 and 4,000 respectively.
To strengthen the region's connectivity to Europe, TNT has introduced Boeing 747-400 Extended Range Freighters in December 2006 to connect Asia and Europe to complement its use of commercial airlines. TNT now flies three times a week between Shanghai and TNT's European Air Hub.
A Dedicated Expert for Operations
In addition to ensuring the smooth integration of new and current operations, Chris will also be responsible for future expansion plans and in growing the region's capabilities to provide specialised and innovative solutions for vertical sectors such as life science and hi-tech.
Good recent examples of such initiatives will be the TNT largest ever life science-focused regional distribution centre in Singapore and the launch of Emergency Express service in Asia (a 24X7 immediate response premier delivery service for urgent overseas shipments departing on the first available flight).
Chris has been with TNT for eight years. He moved to Asia in 2002 to take on the role of Senior Manager, Operations & Network Development for TNT China Mail division to help establish the network capabilities in China. Prior to that, he has worked in various TNT offices in the Netherlands and Germany. Chris is married with one child, and plays tennis and football in his spare time. He is also a qualified football referee.
SOURCE: TNT Express