Tobias Meyer to replace Frank Appel as Deutsche Post DHL CEO in 2023

Frank Appel will step down as Deutsche Post DHL CEO in May 2023 after completing 15 years in the top job and be replaced by Tobias Meyer, head of the Post & Parcel Germany division, the group’s supervisory board decided today.

The move, which follows several days of media speculation about Appel’s future plans, will enable a smooth and gradual transition in the leadership of the world’s biggest mail, parcel, express, freight and logistics group. With his wide-ranging operational experience, Meyer was widely seen as the top internal candidate from the group’s current executive management team.

Leadership transition

The Deutsche Post DHL Group supervisory board today initiated the leadership handover by extending the contract of Appel as CEO until the Annual General Meeting on May 4, 2023. His current contract runs until October 31, 2022. German media have speculated that the 60-year-old may be appointed as chairman of Deutsche Telekom’s supervisory board.

Nikolaus von Bomhard, chairman of the DP DHL Group supervisory board, commented: “Frank Appel’s performance during his more than 13 years at the top of DPDHL Group has been outstanding. With Tobias Meyer following, we have a recognized expert of the company taking over.”

Meyer will take over responsibility for the Corporate Function Global Business Services from July 2022 and then step up to become DPDHL Group CEO in May 2023. His contract runs until March 2027. He will be replaced as CEO Post & Parcel Germany on July 1, 2022, by Nikola Hagleitner, the current Chief Sales Officer, who will also join the group’s Management Board.

“Exceptional management team”

Appel explained: “After careful consideration, I have decided not to remain for another full term in office. I do this totally convinced that Deutsche Post DHL Group is led by an exceptional management team and supported by highly engaged employees. In Tobias Meyer, we have a top class manager and great colleague to follow as the next DPDHL Group CEO. Under his leadership, Post & Parcel Germany successfully managed the turnaround. I couldn’t have hoped for a better successor.”

Frank Appel took over as Deutsche Post DHL Group CEO in February 2008 following the resignation of Klaus Zumwinkel. Under his leadership, the German group abandoned its costly attempt to compete with UPS and FedEx in the US domestic parcels market, re-focused DHL Express on international business, managed the mail volume decline by focusing on e-commerce parcels growth, and consolidated its freight and logistics market leadership positions.

Von Bomhard commented: “We thank Frank Appel for his support to assure this seamless transition. Frank Appel’s performance during his more than 13 years at the top of DPDHL Group has been outstanding. He made the company into a leading global logistics powerhouse that connects people and markets, thereby enabling global trade. Under Appel’s leadership, the company has posted one record after the next. Deutsche Post DHL Group has much to thank him for.”

Wide-ranging operational experience

Tobias Meyer, a former McKinsey consultant (like Appel), joined the company in 2013 and has held a wide variety of positions including Head of Corporate Development, Chief Operations Officer at DHL Global Forwarding, and Head of Operations and IT at Post & Parcel Germany. He has been CEO of Post & Parcel Germany and a member of the DPDHL Management Board since March 2019.

“In Tobias Meyer we have a recognized expert of the company taking over as DPDHL Group CEO. He is the ideal choice to continue the very successful path the company has charted,” von Bomhard said.

New Post & Parcel Germany head

Nikola Hagleitner, who will become CEO of the Post & Parcel Germany division in July 2022, has been with the company since 2005 and has worked in three of the five divisions at Deutsche Post DHL Group. With experience across operations, sales and business development, she brings a wealth of expertise to her new position, the company said.

Board contracts

In addition, the Supervisory Board has also extended the contract with Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain, for another five years to September 30, 2027. 

The other DP DHL management board members are (by length of contract): Ken Allen (appointed until July 2022), Tim Scharwath (contract until May 2025), Thomas Ogilvie (appointed until August 2025), John Pearson (contract until December 2026) and Melanie Kreis (appointed until May 2027).