Hakan Bicil has taken up the role of chief executive at Imperial Logistics International, the international division of Johannesburg-based Imperial Logistics.

Reporting to group chief executive Marius Swanepoel, Bicil is charged with accelerating the development of the group’s international business, which accounts for 40 per cent of Imperial Logistics’ total revenue, with a turnover of €1.6 billion.

Bicil joins from CEVA Logistics, where he was chief commercial officer responsible for global sales, and was previously European managing director for Toll Global Forwarding and held roles at Kuehne + Nagel.

Bicil says: “I am thrilled to be taking over the reins at Imperial Logistics International at the most exciting time in its young history. We have a diversified portfolio of businesses with impressive collective capabilities, a blue-chip customer list, and a team of highly-experienced experts.

“These are excellent building blocks on which to base our “One Imperial Logistics” concept, which will see the creation of a single company and a single global brand.”

Swanepoel adds: “We have been fortunate in attracting such a capable leader to steer Imperial Logistics International through the next phase of its development. Hakan’s extensive global logistics experience encompassing major accounts management, leading a huge global sales operation and spearheading mergers and acquisitions will be invaluable in achieving our goals.”