Deutsche Post DHL Group will rename to DHL Group

Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world’s largest logistics company, announced today that it is dropping the historic ‘Deutsche Post’ term from its corporate name and will become the “DHL Group” on July 1, 2023, to reflect its extensive internationalisation.

But both core brands will remain for commercial and operational purposes, with Deutsche Post covering the German mail business and DHL being used for all other business activities in Germany and internationally.  

The German-based group explained that the new name reflects its transformation over the past years and pays tribute to the focus on its national and international logistics activities as a driver for future growth.  Already, over 90% of the Group’s revenue stems from businesses trading under the DHL brand, including the DHL Parcel business in Germany. 

Deutsche Post AG gained the DHL brand with the phased acquisition of DHL Express in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It then gradually rebranded nearly all of its businesses, including numerous acquisitions, its freight forwarding and contract logistics divisions, and the German parcel service over the past two decades.

DHL is dominant international brand

The new Group CEO Tobias Meyer explained: “Over the past decade, the mega trends of globalization, e-commerce, digitalization, and sustainability have had and will continue to have a strong positive effect on our business. They have opened new growth opportunities to us in many areas.

“Today, we are one of the most international companies in the world. The name DHL Group and the use of the DHL logo for the Group follows on from the development of our company’s business, which outside of Germany almost only ever uses the DHL brand. Meanwhile, within Germany, the DHL brand continues to gain in importance.”

Two brands in Germany

In Germany, the Deutsche Post and DHL brands will continue to be used as they have been in the past.

“We are very proud of Deutsche Post’s tradition, its rich heritage and history that stretches back to the 15th century,” Meyer stressed. “We will continue to use and cherish the Deutsche Post brand in joint branding with DHL and remain ‘The Post for Germany’.” 

DHL eCommerce harmonisation

In parallel, there will be one change among the DHL divisions. As of July 1, 2023, the Group will also harmonize and simplify the name of the DHL eCommerce Solutions division, which operates as “DHL Parcel” in some countries. In the future, this division will consistently use the name DHL eCommerce. 

This renaming has no impact on the divisions’ service offering. The Group will continue to offer and further invest in a broad range of e-commerce related logistics services across all business units – such as inbound logistics, fulfillment as well as express, parcel and return services. 

Stock ticker change to DHL
The new name has no effect on the name of the listed Group parent company, which remains Deutsche Post AG. The stock ticker, which is currently ‘DPW’, will be changed to ‘DHL’ to position the company’s global portfolio better in the financial markets and leverage the strong DHL brand recognition there as well. 

The change of the Group’s name has no effect on the name or the nature of its legal entities, most notably Deutsche Post AG, or to the relationships with these entities internally and externally.

Internally and externally, the Group will begin to use DHL Group on July 1, 2023, to identify itself in its communications and presentations. The rebranding of some physical assets will only happen over time to avoid additional cost.