Subject to the pending resolution by the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Cargo, Ashwin Bhat is set to be appointed as the new CEO of the company effective April 15, 2023. In his new role, Mr. Bhat will continue to be responsible for product and sales.
On Friday (March 31, 2023), Lufthansa Cargo announced the appointment of Ashwin Bhat as CEO effective April 15, 2023, subject to the pending resolution of the company’s Supervisory Board. In his new role, Mr. Bhat will continue to be responsible for product and sales. Lufthansa Cargo will remain under the management of a three-member Executive Board, and the appointment of a third member combined with a new distribution of responsibilities will take place as soon as possible.
In Friday’s announcement, Deutsche Lufthansa AG Executive Board Member and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa Cargo, Dr. Michael Niggemann, said,
“I am very pleased that Ashwin Bhat, a very skilled manager and internationally experienced logistics and cargo expert, is taking on this responsible task. As a member of the Executive Board, he has played a key role in achieving Lufthansa Cargo's most successful years so far. As CEO, he will further develop the company and expand its strong market positioning.”
Born in 1969, Ashwin Bhat studied Chemistry at the University of Mumbai. He launched his professional career at Airline Financial Support Services in India. In 1999 he joined Swisscargo, where he held a range of positions in revenue management, transport management and global area management. From 2015, Mr. Bhat headed the cargo business at Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), and 2021 he was appointed to the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG as Chief Commercial Officer (COO).
With revenue of €4.6 billion and 7.2 billion freight ton kilometers in 2022, Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world’s leading air freight companies, employing approximately 4,100 team members worldwide. The cargo carrier serves around 300 destinations in over 100 countries with a dedicated fleet of freighters, as well as belly-hold cargo capacity of passenger aircraft operated by Lufthansa German Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings Discover and SunExpress. In 2022, the company reached important milestones such as the investment of continuous expansion of the Boeing 777F fleet, the expansion of short and medium-haul networks with Airbus A321 freighters, and the continuation of the SAF program. The airline is currently equipping their fleet of dedicated 777 Freighters with Sharkskin technology to reduce drag, and expand their SAF program to further reduce CO2 emissions. The company also operates an extensive road feeder service network. Lufthansa Cargo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and is the Group’s logistics specialist.
Source: Lufthansa Cargo