Bremen, Germany | Bogotá, Colombia – July 2024: Leschaco Group proudly announces the appointment of Mrs. Mayerline Santamaria Neira as the new Managing Director for Leschaco Colombia and its subsidiaries, effective August 1, 2024. This strategic move follows the recent successful rebranding of the first four Colombian companies, marking a significant step in Leschaco’s mission to foster growth and innovation in the region.
Jochen Raute, who co-founded Coltrans S.A.S. (now Leschaco Colombia S.A.S) in 1988, will guide Mayerline during her transition. Raute, who continues to manage the company and its dedicated team, is planning his retirement by the end of this year, ensuring a smooth handover of leadership responsibilities.
Mayerline Santamaria Neira brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the logistics sector. Her career spans across sales, strategic planning, financial management, and organizational development. With her profound knowledge of the chemicals vertical market and her close collaboration with key pharmaceutical clients in previous roles, Mayerline is set to make a substantial impact on the Leschaco team.
Starting her career at Maersk Line in Bogotá in 2004, Mayerline held various senior management roles. She then served as Country Operations Manager at Crane Worldwide in Bogotá. From 2011 to 2015, she was the Maritime Product Manager at DHL Global Forwarding Colombia, where she led the marketing strategy for maritime products both nationally and internationally. Most recently, she was the Commercial Manager at Puerto Industrial Aguadulce, a leading container terminal at the Port of Buenaventura. There, she directed the commercial and customer service strategy, aligning it with the company’s strategic objectives.
“Mayerline’s extensive network and expertise in the Colombian logistics market, along with her proven people management skills and deep experience in business transformation, position her well to drive our growth ambitions and lead our Colombian branches towards a prosperous future. We are happy to welcome her to our team,” said Martin Sack, Regional Head Americas. “Her strong experience and strategic vision will be key to advancing our objectives and reinforcing our position in the Colombian market.”
The Coltrans Group, acquired by Leschaco (Lexzau, Scharbau GmbH & Co. KG) on December 28, 2022, has been a cornerstone of the Colombian logistics market. Over decades, it has established itself as a leading player, offering a comprehensive range of global logistics services, including import and export services, customs clearance, warehousing, and intermodal transportation. With a longstanding partnership with the Leschaco Group spanning over 30 years, Coltrans has been an integral part of Leschaco’s agent network, significantly contributing to its operations in Colombia, one of the largest emerging markets in Latin America.
