Wolfgang Lehmacher
Wolfgang Lehmacher (born 1960 in Bonn, West Germany) is thought leader, technology evangelist and practitioner in the field of supply chain, transport and logistics. Lehmacher has been involved in various major change initiatives and business transformations in the supply chain industry. He is a recognised writer and speaker. Important roles during his career include President and CEO of GeoPost Intercontinental and Member of the Executive Board at GeoPost, the express parcel holding of French La Poste, and Director Supply Chain and Transport Industries at the World Economic Forum. Lehmacher is convinced that a performant supply chain, transport and  logistics sector is the prerequisite for growth and wealth, prosperity and peace. In light of degrading environmental and social conditions, his aim is to promote well balanced business models at the nexus of economy, society, and environment. Sustainable business, global integration and collaboration are at the core of his interests. His numerous publications, such as the books „Wie Logistik unser Leben prägt“ (How Logistics Shapes Our Lives), „Logistik im Zeichen der Urbanisierung“ (Logistics in Light of Urbanisation) and Global Supply Chain explain and stress the importance of supply chain, transport and logistics for economy and society as well as  the need for the continuous transformation of the global economy towards a more circular and regenerative model. The books have been published at Springer Gabler. Moreover, he has contributed numerous articles to various publications and blogs, including Financial Times, Nikkei Asian Review, Business Insider, World Economic Forum Agenda and BVL-Blog. In addition, Lehmacher authored and co-authored several papers, such as “How Technology Can Unlock the Growth Potential along the New Silk Road”, “Blockchain Technology for Ports”, “Impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Supply Chains” and “Trade Tech – A New Age for Trade and Supply Chain Finance”. Career . His beliefs and knowledge are rooted in his professional activities, responsibilities and experience in private and public companies as well as international organisations over more than three decades in numerous national, regional and global roles. In 1980 he joined German Red Cross organising global emergency transports. During his career, Lehmacher has been involved in various major change initiatives in the courier express parcel industry. Such projects include setting up GD Express Worldwide, the consortium of five major post offices – German, French, Dutch, Swedish and Canadian Post – in Germany (1991–1992), managing the joint venture between Deutsche Post and TNT Express Worldwide  (1994–1996), launching the expansion of TNT Express Worldwide's business in the Eastern European and Eastern Mediterranean regions (1997–1999), and playing a major role in the European expansion of French La Poste (1999–2001) as well as the integration of the pan-European parcel network DPD into the French La Poste business (2001–2005). In his capacity as President and CEO of GeoPost Intercontinental, Lehmacher led the global expansion of the La Poste parcel business through a collaborative partnership model, resulting in a flexible, full coverage global network (2005-2010). Since 2010 he has continued to be involved in expansion and development  projects as Partner and Managing Director at the global strategy boutique CVA, overseeing the China/India business and leading the firm's transportation and logistics practice. He has been advisor to investors, private equity funds and start-ups. Lehmacher was also heading the Supply Chain and Transport Industries community at the World Economic Forum (2014-2018). Amongst other locations, he lived and worked in Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York. In addition, Lehmacher is author of numerous articles and whitepapers, mainly covering innovative transportation and logistics topics. Speaking events. Lehmacher has participated at numerous speaking events, a number of  which have been held by the World Economic Forum. These include The Fallout: A New Global Corporate Landscape, Transforming Urban Transportation, The Asian Consumer: A Sustainability Champion in the Making? and Urbanization: The Unstoppable Global Trend. Other notable speaking events include the Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh, the Boao Forum in China, The Economist World in Dubai, INK in association with TED, TPM Conferences, International Supply Chain Conference Berlin, Ti Transportation Intelligence conferences and the Horasis Global Russia Business Meeting. He also shared his knowledge at institutions such as the MIT Centre of Transportation and Logistics, the Frankfurt School and  the Cologne Business School. Memberships and affiliations. Lehmacher engages in various organizations and expert committees to foster innovation and sustainable practices in the supply chain, logistics and transport industries; for example, he is member of the advisory board of The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society, Singapore, ambassador of the European Freight and Logistics Leaders Forum, Brussels, and founding member of the Logistikweisen, a logistics expert committee under the patronate of the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr) and the think tank NEXST, initiated by Reefknot Investments, Kuehne & Nagel and SGInnovate, Singapore. He is  member of and was member of the German Club of Logistics , He supports Global:SF, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to paving the way for international companies to locate, invest, and grow in the San Francisco Bay Area while helping locally-based companies expand into global markets. He is member of the Board of Governors of the Universal Business School in Karjat, Western India, the first green Indian business school and was member of the Advisory Board of in Singapore, the world's first micro-business school. He advocates the principles underpinning the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC ) and the ‘Partnering Against Corruption Initiative’ (PACI). Lehmacher joins regularly juries and evaluation committees of various organizations like the , the Automotive Logistics Awards Europe, the LogiSYM awards and the IDC Supply Chain Technology Leaders Recognition Program.