EXCLUSIVE: SGL's David Wystrach takes on top airfreight role

David Wystrach has taken on a new global head of airfreight role, effective today, marking his departure from Scan Global Logistics after some five years. 

Based in Frankfurt, Mr Wystrach most recently served as global head of airfreight at Scan Global, a role he held from May 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw the forwarder’s global airfreight strategy and expansion, helping to significantly scale the business. 

But today, he joins Dachser.

Prior to joining Scan Global, he was senior director for airfreight EMEA at digital forwarder Flexport, where he spent almost two years leading regional air operations. Before that, he built more than a decade of experience at Panalpina, serving as air freight procurement manager for nearly 14 years. 

Mr Wystrach described his time at Scan Global as “an exciting chapter” and thanked teams across the business for their collaboration and support. 

“It has truly been a pleasure working alongside such a great group of people,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute over the past years.” 

During his tenure, Scan Global significantly expanded its airfreight activities. 

“I’m especially proud that during this time, we nearly doubled our airfreight volumes and advanced into the top 25 global airfreight forwarders,” he noted. 

He added that the period had been defined not only by commercial growth but also by strong internal development and industry relationships. “The experiences shared, and especially the connections built, will stay with me.” 

Mr Wystrach said: “As of 1 April, I’ll be joining a new ‘spaceship’ and embarking on another exciting growth journey. I’m very much looking forward to what lies ahead,” he said. 

He also thanked customers and partners across the air cargo sector for their trust and cooperation, adding that he hoped to reconnect with many of them in his new role. 

He effectively succeeds Timo Stroh, who led Dachser’s global airfreight operations for nearly a decade until February last year, with the role understood to have since been overseen on an interim basis. 

The appointment comes as Dachser continues to strengthen its global airfreight offering, amid ongoing competition among forwarders to scale up capacity and network reach. According to Armstrong & Associates, Dachser came 22nd in the global air freight forwarders list in 2025, based on 2024 volumes of 243,753 tonnes. Scan Global came 25th with 200,000 tonnes.