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A Strategic Step for Rhenus in European Ocean Freight
Rhenus Group has appointed Thorsten Koch as Head of Ocean Freight Europe, effective October 1, 2025. The move signals the logistics provider’s continued push to strengthen its footprint in European maritime trade lanes.
Koch steps into the role with over 20 years of ocean freight experience, bringing both operational and strategic expertise. Since joining Rhenus in 2019, he has been a key figure in developing ocean freight services across Germany and Northern Europe. His new role puts him in charge of both full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) activities across the continent.
From Regional Roles to a European Mandate
At Rhenus, Koch has steadily worked his way up through ocean freight leadership positions. He first served as Head of Product Management Ocean Germany before moving into the role of Regional Head of Ocean FCL Northern Europe.
In these roles, he helped grow Rhenus’ market presence, refining product offerings while keeping a focus on customer-driven solutions. The company notes that his track record in Northern Europe made him a natural choice for this expanded responsibility.
Reporting into Global Leadership
Koch will report directly to Renee Toh, Vice President Global Ocean Freight, with an additional cross-functional reporting line to Alberto Martinez, CEO Air & Ocean Europe. The reporting structure highlights Rhenus’ focus on integrating regional strategies with its global ocean freight framework.
Martinez underlined the significance of the appointment:
“Thorsten’s appointment is a natural progression for someone who has consistently demonstrated strategic vision and operational excellence. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening our ocean freight capabilities in Northern Europe and I’m confident he will bring the same energy and insight to our broader European operations. We’re excited to see how Thorsten will shape the next chapter of our ocean freight journey.”
About Rhenus
With annual revenues of €8.2 billion, Rhenus employs 41,000 people across 1,330 sites in more than 70 countries. The family-owned business spans the entire supply chain, offering transport, warehousing, customs, and value-added logistics services. Its ocean freight division is a key part of its global strategy, connecting customers across major trade lanes with both LCL and FCL solutions.
