Tiaca chiefs remain in post for 'stability' as it eyes revival of major events
Tiaca has changed its bylaws to allow chair and vice-chair Steven Polmans (left) and Sanjeev ...
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By Alex Lennane
TIACA has appointed Sanjiv Edward (pictured above), Delhi Airport’s head of cargo business, as its next chairman. He will replace Oliver Evans, outgoing chief of Swiss World Cargo.
Sebastiaan Scholte, CEO of Jan de Rijk Logistics, becomes vice-chairman, replacing Enno Osinga, cargo boss of Schiphol Airport, who retires in September.
The pair will formally take over at TIACA’s AGM in Miami on 21 May. Traditionally, the vice-chair takes on the chairmanship at the end of the two-year tenure – but it is not always the case, as with Mr Osinga.
The leaders will have much work to do, as the association tries to attract more members and gain a sounder financial footing after the relatively weak income it gained from last year’s Air Cargo Forum in Seoul. The biennial ACF normally finances the association for two years, but revenue from Seoul failed to provide the same level of comfort.
The association is hoping to drive greater membership numbers from among all industry players, is cutting costs and looking at more revenue opportunities, and hopes to claw back some funding from the ACF next year in Paris.
Whether this will be made more or less difficult following the hugely successful Air Cargo Europe show this week at Transport Logistic in Munich is an unknown – the key will be to ensure that shippers and forwarders visit the Forum as well as the other industry players.
There has been much speculation over who would take on the roles vacated by Mr Evans and Mr Osinga, with some members calling for experienced leaders to help guide TIACA through its next stage. The top roles require support from companies that allow their bosses to give up considerable of time to work with TIACA. Some executives considered for the roles felt unable to dedicate sufficient amounts of time.
Sebastiaan Scholte
Both Mr Edward and Mr Scholte have association experience. The former is a founder member of Air Cargo Forum India and heads its Innovation Group, while Mr Scholte is also chairman of the Cool Chain Association.
“I am delighted to be taking up this position. TIACA has a rich history and bright future, contributing to the global cargo industry,” said Mr Edward.
“Together with Sebastiaan, I am looking forward to working closely with an experienced board and a valuable membership base.”
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