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“ I took a job working in logistics around 37 years ago , and it ’ s been an exciting road to navigate ever since ,” Glen opens . “ My background prior to that was in transportation , but I ’ ve since worked mainly in operational support , whether it be engineering , quality assurance , safety , or efficiency . I approach any role by focusing on how the processes , people , and systems interact to ensure our capabilities meet the evolving needs of our customers .
“ I became part of DP World through their acquisition of Syncreon in 2021 , where I had progressed to Executive Vice President of Global Operations Excellence and Engineering . I ’ ve been in my current role since January 2023 , and it ’ s certainly a very exciting time to be part of DP World with the numerous changes and opportunities that are being presented to us .
“ We ’ re on a transitional journey , moving from what I call the economic zone , or in other words , the ports and terminals side of the business , and towards becoming a leading smart trade enabler . Our technology looks at a business from end to end , identifying the most pressing customer needs to then provide effective solutions . We ’ re linking our services together and adding capabilities through acquisitions like that of Imperial Logistics , UNICO , and CFR Rinkens .
“ In the Americas specifically , we ’ ve extended our operational footprint to nine countries : Canada , the US , Mexico , the Dominican Republic , Ecuador , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , and Peru . We operate around 14 ports and terminals across the region , as well as multiple contract logistics facilities . It has been great to see our continuous development , as we ’ ve also been in the process of opening around 17 freight forwarding branches over the last 18 months .”
Sustainability imperative
As our conversation turns to the challenges facing supply chain functions across the globe , Glen explains : “ For many companies , it ’ s been a case of surviving more than thriving . There have been too many disruptions to list – the pandemic , evolving sustainability requirements , the disruption caused by geopolitical conflict , and issues with canals .
The intersection of automation and sustainability is a powerful tool , and one that I believe will be the future of our business
“ These challenges have resulted in operational changes , causing companies to reevaluate and de-risk their supply chain . Aside from circumstantial challenges , the market is rapidly evolving . Take retail , for example , we ’ ve seen huge shifts from stores to online retail , or in the automotive industry , companies have had to adapt their supply chain to service electric vehicles .
“ From an American standpoint , there ’ s been a huge shift towards nearshoring , which has become critical to ensure a smoother transition of goods . At DP World , we ’ ve just set up a regional distribution center in the Dominican Republic to help us import goods and services from across the Caribbean .
“ With the market changing so quickly , we ’ re tasked with working alongside our customers to identify what impact they will have and find strategic solutions . Most are looking at three areas – sustainability , creativity , and agility – to ensure the movement of supply even in difficult circumstances . Companies that have the ability to be agile , creative , and assess sustainability across their supply chain are the ones that find true value in the assistance of businesses like DP World .”
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