Page 34 - LUA March-April 2025

NEWS

Leadership shifts reshape Africa’s air cargo

and logistics landscape

Lee I’Ons Fitsum Abadi Gebrehawaria John M. Lamola Gregory Saffy Leon Bruwer
ey leadership changes across Africa’s Gebrehawaria as its new Cargo Director, Operations and Leon Bruwer as Managing
Kaviation and logistics sectors are set bringing two decades of expertise from Director of Sales for Sub-Saharan Africa,
to drive transformation and growth. Ethiopian Airlines and DHL. South African enhancing its footprint across eight
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has Airways confirmed John M. Lamola as countries. These appointments mark a
appointed Lee I’Ons as Regional CEO for Group CEO, following a successful interim renewed focus on strategy, innovation, and
India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), period where he returned the airline to regional connectivity in Africa’s aviation
leveraging his 30 years of experience to profitability and expanded its network and logistics sectors, underscoring the
strengthen operations across the region. and fleet. Meanwhile, FedEx named continent’s growing importance in global
Kenya Airways welcomed Fitsum Abadi Gregory Saffy as Managing Director of supply chains.

Zipline opens advanced
Scan Global Logistics drone distribution hub in

expands to Tanzania, strengthens Bayelsa, Nigeria

East Africa network ipline has launched a new high-tech distribution
Zcentre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, commissioned
by Nigeria’s Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate
and Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri. Covering 38,000
sq km, the centre integrates advanced warehousing,
cold storage, and inventory systems to enable swift,
on-demand drone deliveries to hundreds of health
facilities and remote communities. Since beginning
Bayelsa operations in 2023, Zipline has delivered
over one million vaccine doses and 71,000+ units
of essential medicines. The initiative reflects
Nigeria’s push for resilient, tech-driven healthcare
systems amid global aid disruptions. Zipline,
enmark-headquartered and reliable last-mile services. which now operates 13 distribution centres across
Dtransport and logistics Jan Andersson will lead the Africa, ensures its operations are fully locally led,
company - Scan Global Logistics Tanzanian operations, offering generating 30–40 skilled jobs per site and offering
(SGL) has opened its first office tailored logistics solutions in-house training for health and tech professionals.
in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, for local and global clients.
marking a significant step in This expansion follows SGL’s
strengthening its East African successful entry into Kenya and
presence. With access to the Port responds to rising customer
of Dar Es Salaam, SGL will now demand in the region. SGL’s
efficiently serve neighbouring investment aligns with its
landlocked markets, including strategy to deliver high service
Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and standards across origin
the Democratic Republic of and destination markets
Congo. The new office enables amid growing regional
enhanced customs clearance trade opportunities.

32 LUA MARCH - APRIL 2025