CLAUDIA LOPEZ
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Ocean freight product and route development leader with 21 years in international logistics and ocean freight, spanning the Transpacific, India Subcontinent and Latin America trades, based in the US since 2025 after nearly 24 years in Hong Kong. Currently Regional Trade Manager and Head of Transpacific Trade for North America at Rhenus Logistics, reporting directly to the NAM CEO and the VP Global Ocean Freight, and acting as the bridge between commercial sales, ocean pricing, carrier partners and origin stations. Manages ~24,500 TEU a year. Track record of profitable growth: 30% YoY TPEB growth, 40% YoY volume growth across three trades, and new accounts won through tenders. Strong in carrier contract negotiation, allocation steering, product development and turning market intelligence into sales action. Bilingual English/Spanish with deep cross-cultural experience across Asia, the US and Latin America.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Trade Manager, Transpacific & Intra-Americas
Rhenus Logistics LLC
Atlanta, GA
09.2025 - Current
- Own the ocean product for TPEB, India Subcontinent (ISC) and Intra-Americas, setting volume, pricing and campaign priorities with the US commercial team. Since Mar 2026, report directly to the NAM CEO and the VP Global Ocean Freight while the Head of Ocean Product NAM role is open. Manage ~24,500 TEU a year: Transpacific 19,000 TEU (90% TPEB, 10% TPWB), ISC 3,000 TEU and Intra-Americas 2,500 TEU.
- Serve as Head of Transpacific Trade for North America, co-leading the global trade with a Singapore-based counterpart.
- Negotiated our 3 largest TPEB carrier contracts, covering 80% of North America volume commitments, securing competitive rates and conditions that drove 30% YoY TPEB volume growth.
- Steered volume across assigned services to meet all commitments to both carriers and customers.
- Led tender participation for three trades, delivering 40% YoY volume growth; won 5 new TPEB accounts worth 15% YoY trade growth on their own.
- Drive profitable growth with minimum gross profit targets: 6% GP on every global account won via tender, and 10% ocean freight GP on SME accounts secured by regional sales teams, using a hybrid contract/FAK approach to protect FAK performance.
- Developed Rhenus Owned Containers (SOC) as a growth product ex-Asia: 850 TEU released JanSep 2026 against a 1,000 TEU full-year budget, ahead of pace, backed by a FAK vs SOC profitability case and focus-port plan.
- Launched a Detention & Demurrage tariff that generated new revenue at 15% penetration of shipped volume, and a process to bill DD&S within 7 days of container return, closing a previous source of revenue leakage.
- Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with core carriers and key customers on performance, commitments and growth plans; travel monthly across the US and Canada for joint customer calls with commercial teams; and act as escalation point on commercial and pricing issues.
- Run weekly commercial team calls and bi-weekly reviews with ocean pricing and branch managers on market updates, surcharges and tactics to maximize contract value and margin.
- Lead ISCNorth America trade development, building Rhenus's position from a small share of the trade through market intelligence and sales support.
- Produce market intelligence for sales on TPEB, ISCNorth America and LATAM lanes: rates, GRI/PSS, blank sailings, bunker surcharges and tariff impacts.
- Introduced selling and routing guidelines and a twice-weekly allocation tracker that steers sales into open space; manage the Booking Desk and Capacity Management team, including hiring.
- Building the USALatin America export lane, with internal and customer-facing materials on Rhenus's investment in the corridor.
- Head of Transpacific Trade, North America
TPEB Trade Manager
Rhenus Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited
Hong Kong
03.2023 - 08.2025
- Owned the TPEB trade from Asia with no US counterpart, partnering directly with the Head of NAM Ocean Product on carrier strategy, pricing and growth.
- Negotiated all 4 Asia-signed carrier contracts and managed allocation strategy across services; grew FCL volume 22% YoY.
- Owned all TPEB tender participation and built the offer strategy that won 4 of the top 10 accounts in the trade.
- Ran monthly calls with Country Pricing Managers across APAC to identify opportunities and bring new business on board.
- Travelled across APAC to meet carriers and customers and build relationships at origin.
- Selected on results for transfer to Atlanta as Head of Transpacific Trade, to lead TPEB, an FOB trade, from the US side where cargo is controlled.
Senior Pricing Manager Asia All Trades
World Net Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited
Hong Kong
10.2015 - 02.2023
- Pricing Manager Asia All Trades, Mar 2019 Feb 2022; promoted to Senior Pricing Manager
- Took over the FCL pricing department for all trades (LATAM, TPEB, Far EastEurope, Intra-Asia) after a major restructuring.
- Grew the main US agents volume by 30% through agency network management.
- Led FCL procurement for the LATAM trade, managing 8,000 TEU.
- Built the agency network in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and El Salvador.
- Joined sales visits in Latin America and secured 5 accounts in Mexico, Chile and Brazil.
Route Development Manager, Asia Latin America
Kerry Logistics
Hong Kong
10.2013 - 07.2015
- Built Kerrys AsiaLatin America sea freight and integrated logistics business from zero presence, a Kerry Group priority.
- Signed the regions first integrated logistics accounts, Sears (Mexico) and Alpargatas (Brazil), including PO management system rollout.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Public Accounting
Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO)
Guadalajara, Mexico01-1997
Personal Information
- Title: Ocean Freight Trade & Route Development Leader
- Work Permit: Authorized to work in the US (permanent resident)
- Visa Status: Authorized to work in the US (permanent resident)
Languages
Languages: English and Spanish (bilingual)
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Ocean product & pricing FCL product strategy, carrier contracts (NAC/FAK), allocation management, D&D tariffs, surcharges (GRI, PSS, BAF/EBS), SOC/COC equipment
- Growth & business development Tender management, route and lane development, SME and key-account growth, pipeline support, joint customer visits
- Market intelligence TPEB, ISCNorth America and LATAM rate and capacity analysis, blank sailings, tariff and FMC impacts, sales briefings
- Stakeholder leadership Bridge between sales, pricing, carriers and stations; QBRs and escalations; negotiation and conflict management; team leadership and hiring
- Process improvement Selling and routing guidelines, allocation tracking and volume steering, booking desk and capacity management
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Industry events: Annual attendee at TPM (Long Beach) and Intermodal South America (Brazil)
- Tools: NYSHEX, Xeneta, Freight Tender, Qlik; Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
Timeline
Regional Trade Manager, Transpacific & Intra-Americas
Rhenus Logistics LLC
09.2025 - Current
TPEB Trade Manager
Rhenus Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited
03.2023 - 08.2025
Senior Pricing Manager Asia All Trades
World Net Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited
10.2015 - 02.2023
Route Development Manager, Asia Latin America
Kerry Logistics
10.2013 - 07.2015
Bachelor's Degree - Public Accounting
Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO)