Hermes Fulfilment has decided on two important personnel appointments for the new site in Ilowa, Poland. Barbara Kalwasinska has been appointed Managing Director Operations with effect from July 1, 2022. Together with the Managing Director HR, she will manage the new logistics operation as Operations Manager.
In addition, Tomasz Klimczak was appointed Director Operations, also with effect from July 1.
Julia Elise Hanebuth, Program Manager NEON* at HF: "The construction of the new facility at the Ilowa site is progressing according to plan. It is scheduled to go online at the end of 2023. However, we really wanted to fill the two key positions at this early stage because we already need local expertise for important tasks of the programme, such as setting up the organization, establishing the local service provider network and contacts with the authorities. We also want to involve the future managers in important location decisions as early as possible."
The new operations duo has a wealth of experience
Barbara studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University in Wroclaw and completed her education in an MBA program. She can look back on 25 years of experience in international corporations, including eight years as Operations Manager at Metsa Tissue. At Sonoco, she was responsible for five plants in parallel as well as overseeing the construction of various greenfield projects. Among other things, Barbara was responsible for the construction of a repackaging plant with 700 employees for Lego. For Hannifin, she was subsequently responsible for lean management, among other things, for which she has a great affinity due to her special training. Most recently, Barbara was General Manager of Amcor Speciality Cartons.
Barbara reports directly to Julia Hanebuth and Lars Otromke, Managing Director and Managing Director of Gernsheim GmbH, the owner of Estamil.
Kevin Kufs: "Two renowned and experienced experts."
Tomasz Klimczak completed a degree in management and production technology at the Technical University of Szczecin. He then moved to England, where he initially took on his first management roles at Flower World. In 2008, he moved to Kuehne + Nagel, where he worked as a shift manager, warehouse manager and head of logistics. In 2019, his path led him back to Poland. He set up a new branch there for the logistics company GEFCO, where he was responsible for the search for a property developer, all legal matters and setting up the processes, among other things. To this day, Tomasz manages this location with its more than 100 full-time employees.
Kevin Kufs, CEO of Hermes Fulfilment: "We are delighted to have gained two such renowned and experienced experts. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the Ilowa site is not only of outstanding importance for HF, but for the entire Otto Group. I wish them both the best possible start at HF and every success with all their challenging tasks in the future."
*As is well known, the Otto Group is using the NEON program to invest an amount in the mid three-digit million range in two locations for the processing of Mytoys and OTTO. Firstly, in the conversion and expansion of the existing facility in Gernsheim, Hesse, and secondly in a completely new building in Ilowa, Poland. The planned go-live of the operation not far from the German border is the end of 2023."