DHL recognizes international management talent

For over nine months they discussed, organized, and made far-reaching decisions. Now the winning team of the DHL Fast Forward business simulation, which triumphed over a field of more than 8,500 competitors from over 120 countries, has been determined.

The winners of the first worldwide logistics business simulation were recognized last night by Dr. Frank Appel, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Post World Net, and Walter Scheurle, Board Member for Personnel at Deutsche Post World Net, in an evening ceremony at the SkyEventConference center in Cologne, Germany. The winners will receive prizes with a value totaling over 50,000 Euros.

Jason Sender from the USA, Vinay Bohra und Prasanna Joshi from India, Gürkan Kesici from Turkey and Michael Wilms from Germany took first place with their team ARBOCADON. "It was really hard work. I am very proud and happy," said Jason Sender. "A particular highlight of our stay in Germany was our visit to the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, and personal contact with the top management of an international logistics leader."

"DHL Discover Logistics is an outstanding means for getting up-and-coming management talent interested in our company. In addition, this initiative boosts the image of the logistics industry in general. As the world's largest employer in the sector, we are making an important contribution to promoting professional education," explained Frank Appel.

The group hopes to interest students, graduates and career starters

The DHL Discover Logistics initiative was launched in April 2008 under the patronage of German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. By means of this initiative, Deutsche Post World Net hopes to interest highly qualified students, graduates and career starters in the growing logistics industry.

The DHL Fast Forward business simulation is a central element of the initiative. Starting from an initial pool of over 8,500 participants, 46 participants from 12 countries made it to the Final Round, where they competed in 10 international teams. The Final Round consisted of two highly realistic cases studies, and was judged by a jury of highly placed experts. The teams competed live for two days at the Post Tower in Bonn, Germany.

The objective of the business simulation was to make a virtual logistics company the world leader by means of forward-looking management decisions, and to secure world quality leadership.

"While all of the finalists demonstrated a very high skill level, the strategic approach, creative ideas and very professional presentation delivered by Team ARBOCADON made a particularly favorable impression on us," noted Walter Scheurle. "Response to the business simulation was overwhelming. We more than attained our goal of getting students and career starters excited about logistics as a growing industry - and about our company too."

Deutsche Post World Net uses DHL Discover Logistics as a means of promoting promising talent from around the world and will continue to develop this tool for future use.