Christopher B Zervas
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at Schenker Inc., specializing in airfreight and cold chain logistics. Achieved a 30% productivity increase while managing P&L responsibilities of $50 million. Expert in vendor negotiation and cross-functional leadership, driving operational excellence and fostering strong team collaboration in high-pressure environments.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Airfreight Operations Centre Healthcare
Schenker Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
09.2023 - Current
- Created an airfreight operations centre specific to healthcare airfreight shipments
- Managing national shipments across 2 sites with 50 employees
- Ensured GDP certification for the operations centre
- Transitioned & centralized traditional managed business from branches to the operations centre
- Created internal KPIs to ensure operational excellence
- Created live dashboards to be able to mitigate operational risks and challenges
- P&L responsibility of approx. $50 Million annually
- Responsible for warehouse operations across 2 sites
- In conjunction with the regional procurement team, centralized rate procurement and RFQ responses for temperature-controlled cargo
- Enhancing the operations centre to a 24/7 centre of excellence for healthcare
- Increased productivity by 30%
- Reduced OPEX by 23%
Head of Airfreight mgmt. Healthcare Americas
Schenker Inc.
Miami, FL
12.2020 - 09.2023
- Built a team of Airfreight professionals specialized in healthcare airfreight within the region
- Responsible for all healthcare airfreight operations within the region Americas
- Established GDP guidance and certification within the Region Americas
- Established and cultured relationships with vendors, carriers
- Aligned with the Healthcare Commercial Team to engage in business growth
- Participated in Industry events
- Grew cold chain infrastructure to better support the needs of customers as well as counter Industry challenges
- Defined new airfreight processes regionally to drive operational excellence
- Created trainings specific to healthcare operations and GDP requirements
- Implemented lane risk assessment software within the region
Global Account Director Vertical Market Healthcare
Schenker Inc.
Miami, FL
10.2015 - 12.2020
- Managing Global Key Accounts within the vertical healthcare market including clients from the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and animal health sectors
- Exceptional growth of YOY revenue and tonnage across account portfolio and business sectors
- Established new customer relationships as well as long term partnerships within the account organizational structure
- Initiated and conducted workshops with C-Level executives to engage in strategic long-term partnerships beneficial to the clients as well as DB Schenker.
- Identified route enhancements which were presented to the clients for further evaluation and implementation
- Acting subject matter expert for clients by providing constant industry market updates as well as advising on rate and capacity developments
- Worked with clients during crises to provide supply chain security
- Managing cross-functional teams ranging from Regional Key Account Managers, Global Pricing Teams and Operations Management.
- Managing effective Contract negotiations, QBR’s, RFQ’s as well as MBR’s for clients
- Instrumental in supply cold chain qualification processes for clients
National Account Manager
Schenker Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
05.2015 - 10.2015
- National Account Manager responsible for sales within the state of Indiana
- Established Sales Opportunities of over $5 Million in Revenue within 3 months
- Established relationship with a global healthcare customer and led the global RFQ
- Established new customer relationships with success and gain in business
- Managed Key Account for region Americas including organizing QBR’s, RFQ’s and leading the operations team
- Provided support to Global Key Account Management in account management tasks
Key Account Export Coordinator
Schenker Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
11.2008 - 04.2015
- Key Account Export Coordinator responsible for several key accounts from the healthcare vertical and high tech vertical
- Increased a high-tech account business by 120% within 6 months by finding new airfreight solutions
- Established and implemented standard operating procedures for cold chain business
- Implemented temperature monitoring globally
- Established global standard operating procedures with Airline Partners and Handling Agents
- Negotiations with Airline Partners, Steam ship lines, Handling Agents and Trucking Vendors
- Established local Envirotainer standard operating procedures
- Part of global Air and Ocean RFQ processes and rate establishment
- Preparation and presentation of QBR’s
- Member of global QEP implementation team for Envirotainer
- Implementation of IATA Chapter 17 Time and Temperature procedures within Schenker Inc.
Key Account Import Coordinator Gateway
Schenker Deutschland AG
Frankfurt am Main
06.2004 - 11.2008
- Key Account Import Coordinator managing Imports for an automotive and healthcare account
- Implemented a healthcare key account into a Gateway structure
- Implementing Cool Chain in the Gateway Structure and establishing local standard operating procedures with local branches and handling agents at the Rhein Main Airport
- Implementation of Customer Import Requirements
- Performed Customs and Veterinary Clearance for Customers
- Performed Truck Planning and scheduling
Education
GAM/RAM Training -
DB Schenker
05.2017
in job training - Logistic Assistant
DB Schenker
06.2008
IHK Certification - Forwarding Agent
IHK
06.2004
Internship - Truck Export Agent
Schenker S.A.
Barcelona02.2004
Skills
- Airfreight and cold chain logistics
- P&L and KPI management
- Vendor negotiation and relationship management
- Supply chain optimization
- Cross-functional leadership
- Team building and crisis management
Affiliations
- Technisches Hilfswerk (THW), 1995
- Down Syndrome Society of Indiana, 2014
References
Available on request
Languages
English
Full Professional
German
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Elementary
French
Elementary
Timeline
Director of Airfreight Operations Centre Healthcare
Schenker Inc.
09.2023 - Current
Head of Airfreight mgmt. Healthcare Americas
Schenker Inc.
12.2020 - 09.2023
Global Account Director Vertical Market Healthcare
Schenker Inc.
10.2015 - 12.2020
National Account Manager
Schenker Inc.
05.2015 - 10.2015
Key Account Export Coordinator
Schenker Inc.
11.2008 - 04.2015
Key Account Import Coordinator Gateway
Schenker Deutschland AG
06.2004 - 11.2008
GAM/RAM Training -
DB Schenker
in job training - Logistic Assistant
DB Schenker
IHK Certification - Forwarding Agent
IHK
Internship - Truck Export Agent
Schenker S.A.
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