CEVA moves Kulik to board, names DHL exec as CEO

CEVA moves Kulik to board, names DHL exec as CEO CEVA Logistics, which was named TNT Logistics before being acquired by investment group Apollo Management in November, said that John Pattullo would replace David Kulik as chief executive officer in the second half of the year.
   Pattullo is currently chief operating officer of the EMEA division of DHL Exel Supply Chain, the logistics arm of Deutsche Post and is a former executive with Proctor & Gamble.
   Kulik, who was group managing director of TNT Logistics when the company was part of Dutch postal and express delivery group TNT N.V., will become vice chairman of CEVA once the transition is completed. Kulik is credited with streamlining TNT Logistics’ global operations and improving slipshod performance by eliminating bad contracts since taking over the operation in late 2003. He guided the company through a protracted auction process and transition to Apollo Management control.
   “I am very excited by the prospect of John joining our organization at the very beginning of the next phase of our global development under the ownership of Apollo,” Kulik said in a statement. “There is an enhanced sense of purpose and urgency at CEVA and given John’s long track record of success in senior leadership roles in the logistics industry, he will add tremendous value to our company. He is an outstanding leader and I am looking forward to working with him. In addition, with one of the best management teams in the logistics industry supporting John in his role, I am very optimistic about the future of CEVA”.
   In an interview with Shippers’ Newswire, Kulik said the hiring of Pattullo to handle day-to-day operations will free him up to work on new strategic initiatives and the company’s expansion in Asia and emerging markets.
   “I view this as management team strengthening. It points out to the market how aggressive Apollo and CEVA are going to be,” Kulik said.
   In addition to developing CEVA's strategy, Kulik said he will serve as a principle advisor to Apollo about mergers and acquisitions in the logistics and transportation sector and management’s liaison to its business units.
   CEVA’s board consists of non-executive officers from Apollo.
   CEVA, which is based in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, is currently in the midst of a 100-day transition plan, which includes transferring leases and equipment to the CEVA name and changing the Web site. The company has recently announced new business as well as several contract renewals.
   The company is still co-located in the TNT corporate office, but recently signed a contract for a new building about a mile away, Kulik said.