Stavros Evangelakakis takes the chair of the Cool Chain Association

Stavros Evangelakakis, a well-known figure on the temperature-controlled air freight scene, is to take over as chairman of the Cool Chain Association (CCA).

The global product manager for Cargolux, Mr Evangelakakis has been a CCA member since 2012. He takes over from Sebastiaan Scholte, CEO of Jan de Rijk Logistics and vice chairman of TIACA, who has held the post for five years.

Mr Scholte said: “I am proud of how the association has grown to become an authority on cool chain logistics. We have a voice in the industry and make things work. We are not bound by political correctness; we push for things and we are not afraid to discuss relevant topics in an open and transparent way. “

The CCA recently expanded its board, which now includes Gerton Hulsman, managing director of Dusseldorf Airport Cargo, and Fabrizio Iacobacci, head of pharma business development at Bcube Air Cargo.

Mr Evangelakakis said: “It is a great pleasure to see where we started and where we are now. The organisation is a lot more professional. We need to continue to listen to our members’ concerns as well as act as a strong unified voice for our industry. It would be great if we could look towards holding more conferences on the cool chain, including airport communities, in our efforts going forward.

“We would like to continue to grow our membership base with people who are willing to make a change within the cool air cargo supply chain. Our goal is to have more transparency and, ultimately, more collaboration.”

The CCA is in a “great financial condition,” noted Mr Scholte. “Our aim is not to make a profit, but it is always good to have strong cash reserves. Our reserves have significantly improved over the last five years.”