Former Maersk executive Thomas Knudsen moves from the position as CEO to chairman of the board at logistics firm Toll Group.
After four years as CEO of Australian Toll Group, Danish national Thomas Knudsen moves to the position as chairman of the Japanese-owned logistics company.
This is evident from a Toll Group announcement about changes in the company’s board and top management.
Knudsen has been chief executive of Toll Group for four years. He replaces John Mullen as chair and will himself be replaced as CEO by the previous head of Toll Group Forwarding, Alan Beacham.
Knudsen joined Toll Group in 2018, and after a couple of meager years, he has managed to create growth at the company. For this, the departing chair thanks him, and Mullen furthermore notes that Knudsen has reshaped the company strategy.
”Thomas leaves a positive legacy having created the vision and strategy for ‘Toll 2.0’ and laying the foundations to deliver sustainable growth through a simpler business and a focus on customer led innovation,” states Mullen in the announcement.
Asia as growth area
Traditionally, Toll Group has had the main part of its activities in Australia, but in an interview with WPO in April, Knudsen declared that Asia is now viewed as the primary area for growth.
”We would like to grow in order to get a more balanced geographical coverage in our business. We would like Asia to make up more than 50% within 3-4 years,” he said.
Knudsen also expressed a wish to make the ocean freight business, currently making up 550,000 teu annually, grow further.
Since 2015, Toll Group has been owned by Japan Post.
