He will be responsible for overseeing small package operations and driving business development and strategy throughout this vital region.
“I’m so proud to take up this new role. This part of Europe is home to an incredible team of UPSers, as well as dynamic businesses with huge export potential. I’m looking forward to helping businesses of all sizes take advantage of international opportunities through our service and technology,” says Kessler.
In his previous role as country manager for UPS in Austria and Switzerland, Kessler was focused on development and expansion of UPS’s business across these two countries, maintaining UPS’s Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards in healthcare operation and the launch of UPS Premier in Switzerland, as well as the pioneering use of lockers as UPS Access Point locations in Austria.
He worked his way up through the company after first joining in 2006 as an Account Executive in Frankfurt. He later took on sales roles before being promoted to Talent Manager in 2012. He then continued his career in HR, becoming vice president for human resources and labour relations before becoming Austria and Switzerland County Manager in February 2022.
Ufku Akaltan has now become president of West EMEAI and continues to be responsible for business operations and accelerated growth in the UK, Ireland, Nordics and India, with the addition of the West and South European country clusters.
He says, “Markus brings diverse and extensive experience from a range of European markets, and I’m confident that he’ll put that experience to the use of our shipping customers across the vital and strategic markets for UPS.”