DHL Global Forwarding, Freight has appointed two senior executives to its Global Management Board, signaling a sharper strategic focus on industrial project logistics and customs operations under its Strategy 2030 agenda.
Martyn Lawns will take on the role of CEO of DHL Global Industrial Projects, while continuing his duties as global head of DHL’s New Energy growth initiative. Greg Nichols is now Senior Vice President, Global Customs, overseeing the integrated Customs Product function across DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
These moves come at a time when complex infrastructure, renewable energy, and cross-border trade challenges are pressing logistics providers to deliver more specialized services.
Strengthening industrial project forwarding
Industrial projects—spanning energy, mining, infrastructure, and engineering—demand high value, high complexity transport and logistics solutions. Martyn Lawns, with over two decades of leadership experience in logistics and procurement across more than 45 countries, is tasked with scaling DHL’s operations in these sectors.
Under his guidance, DHL seeks to expand capabilities in sectors fueling the energy transition, such as battery supply chains, electric vehicles, and green energy infrastructure. Lawns is expected to fuse operational execution with strategic expansion, leveraging his tenure in leading global sector teams.
Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, commented: “Martyn’s leadership will be instrumental in scaling our Industrial Projects business to meet rising global demand.”
Customs as a strategic enabler
Regulatory complexity, shifting tariff regimes, and supply chain disruptions have elevated customs from a back-office function to a frontline enabler of trade. Greg Nichols, who joined DHL in 2019, has previously led projects such as the digital customs brokerage platform DHL TradeConnect and a globally standardized customs operating framework.
In his new role, Nichols will advance innovation in cross-border solutions, ensuring consistent performance, compliance, and visibility across markets. The company frames customs as no longer just a compliance function—it is now a strategic enabler of global trade.
De Bok remarked that Nichols’ appointment underscores DHL’s intent to help customers “navigate complexity and unlock growth” in volatile regulatory environments.
Implications for logistics, maritime, and project cargo sectors
For professionals in maritime, breakbulk, project logistics, and large cargo transport, this executive shuffle aligns with several industry trends:
- Growing demand for integrated logistics that can manage complex installations, heavy lifts, and infrastructure deployment across geographies.
- Heightened need for customs agility as trade policies evolve, especially for project cargo crossing multiple jurisdictions.
- Increased pressure on logistics firms to not just move volume but to architect compliance, sustainability, and value into their service offerings.
By elevating leadership in industrial projects and customs, DHL positions itself to better support clients seeking end-to-end solutions rather than segmented freight and compliance services.
DHL’s move also signals to competitors and customers alike that specialization—especially in energy, infrastructure, and regulatory logistics—is a differentiator in a crowded global forwarding market.
The appointments reflect a broader industry shift: logistics providers must today offer not simply capacity, but domain expertise in sectors undergoing transformation—whether in renewables, infrastructure, or global trade compliance.
