New appointment adds muscle to airfreight consolidator

CFR Freight has moved its airfreight division into a new league with the appointment of Dave Graham to the newly created position of general manager – airfreight. Since its inception six years ago, the division has grown and evolved. “But we now want to take it to the next level,” says CFR managing director Martin Keck. Graham joined CFR Freight on October 1 after seven years with UTi, most recently heading up the Chicago gateway operation. Along with New York, this facility is their largest in the United States. Prior to that he headed up the DHL airfreight facility at JIA, now OR Tambo International Airport. “Compared to the Far East and US, the consolidation market in South Africa is clearly under-developed and I believe it’s something we can grow,” Graham told FTW. There are several priorities on his agenda. “First is developing and growing new business and ensuring that the operational processes are in place to support that new business.” Part of that drive will include the recruitment of a dedicated, capable and experienced sales team. One of the company’s focus areas is the US where its agency partner – Shipco – is one of the major agents in the region. Graham adds: “Europe and Africa will continue to be strong focus markets, with South Africa increasingly acting as a springboard into the rest of the continent.” With airfreight offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, the company is well positioned to service its growing client base. “A strong selling point,” says director Peter Schmidt- Löffler, “is our worldwide agency network – the Air Cargo Group – which enables us to offer a global, door-to-door option. “This offers considerable advantages to forwarders who don’t have an international network. In addition we have accounts with all airlines as well as CASS, which means that our customers don’t need to raise bank guarantees, which would tie up their cash flow and limit their ability to increase their inbound customs clearance business.” The company has on-site warehouse facilities and is in the process of being accredited in terms of Part 108 security regulations. Clearly the foundations are in place and a business plan is on track. “Our goal,” says Graham, “is to become the leading airfreight consolidator by 2011.”