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Kuehne+Nagel International AG

Freight Forwarding and Global LogisticsFounded 1890
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Kuehne+Nagel: CEO History

4 leaders · 1999 to present

Who is the CEO of Kuehne+Nagel?

Stefan Paul is the CEO of Kuehne+Nagel, in the role since 2022. The first chief executive was Klaus Herms, from 1999.

Current CEO
Stefan Paul (since 2022)
First CEO
Klaus Herms (1999)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1890
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Stefan PaulChief Executive Officer2022Present4
Detlef TrefzgerChief Executive Officer201320229
Reinhard LangeChief Executive Officer200920134
Klaus HermsChief Executive Officer1999200910
Who was CEO of Kuehne+Nagel before Stefan Paul?
Detlef Trefzger was CEO of Kuehne+Nagel from 2013 to 2022, before Stefan Paul took over in 2022.

Company Overview

Kuehne+Nagel International AG, based in Schindellegi in the Swiss canton of Schwyz and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (KNIN), is one of the world's largest logistics companies. Founded in Bremen in 1890, it now organises ocean, air and road shipments and runs warehouses for manufacturers and retailers worldwide, while owning relatively little transport equipment. The Kühne family controlled the group for more than a century; after Klaus-Michael Kühne died in August 2026, his majority stake is held via Kühne Holding and the Kühne Foundation. The company is headquartered in Schindellegi, Switzerland.

Stefan Paul

Chief Executive Officer

2022 – Present

4 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Took over in August 2022 as the pandemic freight boom ended; launched the Roadmap 2026 strategy, a Q4 2025 cost-reduction programme targeting at least ~$240 million (CHF 200 million) in annualised gross savings, and an AI programme led by a Chief AI and Innovation Officer.

Legacy

Paul has steered Kuehne+Nagel through the post-2022 normalisation of freight rates. In 2025 the group kept its No. 1 sea and air volume positions, and in 2026 raised recurring EBIT guidance to CHF 1.35-1.55 billion.

Source →

Detlef Trefzger

Chief Executive Officer

2013 – 2022

9 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Trefzger aggressively expanded Kuehne+Nagel's Asian footprint by orchestrating the massive acquisition of Apex International, heavily boosting the company's transpacific air freight volume.

Legacy

As CEO, he navigated the extreme volatility of the COVID-19 supply chain crisis, capturing record-breaking margins by securing incredibly scarce ocean and air freight capacity for desperate clients.

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Reinhard Lange

Chief Executive Officer

2009 – 2013

4 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Lange severely struggled to integrate the massive acquisitions of ACR Logistics and Alloin Group, leading to significant operating losses in the contract logistics division.

Legacy

He was abruptly forced to step down as CEO in 2013 due to internal friction with majority shareholder Klaus-Michael Kühne over the company's sluggish growth and operational inefficiencies.

Source →

Klaus Herms

Chief Executive Officer

1999 – 2009

10 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Herms successfully executed the massive global transition of Kuehne+Nagel from a traditional, localized freight forwarder into a highly integrated, IT-driven global logistics provider.

Legacy

During his decade as CEO (1999-2009), he drove the company's aggressive expansion into contract logistics and managed the critical acquisition of US-based USCO Logistics.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

The company faces freight-rate cyclicality, shipper price pressure, digital forwarding competition, carrier vertical integration, geopolitical disruption, and the need to decarbonize transport without giving away margin. The normalization of ocean freight rates after 2022 remains the clearest pressure on reported revenue.

Kuehne+Nagel CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who was Dr. Detlef Trefzger and what was his impact as CEO of Kuehne+Nagel?

Dr. Detlef Trefzger served as CEO of Kuehne+Nagel from 2013 to 2022. Over his transformative nine-year tenure, Trefzger doubled company profitability, expanded digital logistics with myKN, executed the landmark Apex International acquisition, and steered the group to record profits.

Who was Reinhard Lange and what leadership role did he hold?

Reinhard Lange served as CEO of Kuehne+Nagel from 2009 to 2013, guiding the company through the global financial crisis by expanding maritime and air logistics networks across emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.

Who was Klaus Herms and how did he lead Kuehne+Nagel in the 2000s?

Klaus Herms served as CEO of Kuehne+Nagel from 1999 to 2009, leading the company through its expansion into contract logistics and overseeing major European road logistics network consolidations.

Who is Dr. Jörg Wolle and what is his role as Chairman of the Board?

Dr. Jörg Wolle has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuehne+Nagel International AG since 2016. An experienced Swiss industrial leader, Wolle oversees long-term corporate governance, M&A strategy, and executive succession.

Who serves as Chief Financial Officer of Kuehne+Nagel?

Markus Blanka-Graff has served as Chief Financial Officer of Kuehne+Nagel since 2014, maintaining strict working capital discipline, conservative capital allocation, and an industry-leading dividend payout record.

What is the management philosophy that defines Kuehne+Nagel's executive committee?

Kuehne+Nagel's executive leadership operates on decentralized operational accountability combined with centralized IT discipline: empowering regional country managers to serve local clients while maintaining strict Swiss financial control and zero debt.

What strategic milestones did CEO Stefan Paul achieve during his tenure?

Under CEO Stefan Paul, Kuehne+Nagel launched the 'Roadmap 2026' strategy, optimized operating conversion rates following post-pandemic freight normalization, integrated Apex International, and expanded specialized semiconductor and healthcare logistics.

Who is the CEO of Kuehne + Nagel?

Stefan Paul serves as CEO, taking over from the highly successful Detlef Trefzger in 2022. However, the absolute most powerful figure in the company is Klaus-Michael Kühne. He is the grandson of the founder, the honorary chairman, and the wealthiest man in Germany (worth over $30 billion). He maintains massive voting control over the company from his estate in Switzerland.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.