Lee I’Ons, President of Middle East and Africa at Kuehne+Nagel, is a dynamic and visionary leader dedicated to leading the organisation through a successful transition to become the most reliable supply chain partner promoting a sustainable future under Vision 2030.
With thirty years of global logistics industry experience, Lee embodies a powerful combination of expertise, innovation, and strategic foresight. Lee established Kuehne+Nagel as a leader in innovation and resiliency throughout the Middle East and Africa thanks to his extensive understanding of finance, economics, and supply chain operations. He also has a strong passion for sea freight.
The largest sea and air freight forwarder worldwide, with a workforce of 80,000 professionals in over 1,300 offices globally and operations in close to 100 countries, Kuehne+Nagel is committed to delivering sustainable logistics solutions to customers.
The organisation consistently concentrates on initiatives that have a positive effect on the infrastructure and local economy, as well as on people’s access to healthcare and cleaner energy through those initiatives. China recently delivered 190 wind turbine generators and 67 tower sets to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for use in a nearby wind farm that will generate renewable energy. In South Africa, Kuehne+Nagel transports wind turbines to the Northern and Eastern Cape, where they will be a crucial element in developing green hydrogen and producing clean energy for the surrounding communities.
Following the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative, which offers a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with Paris Agreement goals and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, work is on track to reach the target of reducing CO2 emissions by 33% by 2030. Innovative technologies and solutions to lower the carbon footprint in the supply chain were personally overseen and guided by Lee. Examples include Book & Claim, an insetting solution for road, sea, and air logistics customers who buy Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), maritime biofuels, or SAF to reduce transport emissions.
The recent decision by COP28 to name Kuehne+Nagel as its Freight Forwarding and Logistics Partner for this momentous occasion in Dubai is evidence of a common goal and a message of energy transition and sustainability.
In the Middle East and Africa, Kuehne+Nagel has a remarkable ability to draw in young talent. The company works with multiple universities in the area, offers training and mentorship, and gets students ready to enter the logistics sector with a solid foundation in supply chain theory and practice.