Meet Laurice Burrell, new GM of Rhenus Logistics South Africa

Introducing Rhenus Logistics

Rhenus Logistics South Africa is part of the massive global Rhenus Group, which was founded back in 1912. One of the leading global logistics service providers, Rhenus has offices in over 750 locations worldwide and it employs 33 000 people. The Rhenus Group provides solutions for a wide variety of different sectors along the complete supply chain; they include multimodal transport operations, warehousing and customs clearance. Its annual turnover is a whopping €5.4 billion (roughly R94 billion).

Rhenus Logistics South Africa is born

In 2019, the Rhenus Group acquired World Net Logistics, which officially became known as Rhenus Logistics South Africa from 1 December 2020.

The distinctive Rhenus logo and corporate identity replaced the World Net Logistics branding, reflecting its strengthened positioning as part of the global organisation. “We were excited to become fully integrated and a part of the Rhenus Group – with its ‘One Group – One Brand – One Rhenus’ philosophy,” says Dirk Goedhart, previously Chief Executive Officer of World Net Logistics (and now CEO of Rhenus Logistics South Africa). “It brings about new opportunities to leverage off the global Rhenus network, giving our clients even greater value and enabling us to pursue our growth strategy.”

The integration of World Net Logistics was phased in since its acquisition by Rhenus in 2019. “Because of our shared values, similar vision and mission, aligned strategies, and the group’s decentralised structure, the transition from World Net Logistics to Rhenus Logistics South Africa was seamless. We continue to focus on our core differentiators, but with the added benefits of a truly global brand,” says Goedhart. “Our full supply chain service, which includes flexible and reliable last-mile deliveries in South Africa through Rhenus Express, is an advantage for all our customers.”

Burrell enters the fray

As an equal opportunity company that embraces diversity, Rhenus focuses on empowering employees of all genders. It comes as no surprise therefore to see that – when a new general manager needed to be appointed – a woman was selected for the job. That woman is Laurice Burrell, and she’s been in the field of logistics for 12 years.

“Before I joined the industry, I was involved in the sourcing and branding of corporate gifts. The import and export of stock required an understanding of global trade that sparked my interest and pushed me to explore more. In 2009, I joined an international freight forwarder in finance, where I was responsible for the reconciling of third-party billings (mainly carriers) with operational costings.

“I quickly realised that I wanted to grow in this industry and understand more about the various divisions within my respective company at the time. I moved into an airfreight operations role – predominately dealing with Africa. Freight operations soon became my passion and, not long after, I was given the opportunity to lead the air, road and ocean operations within the exports mining division.

“My devotion for operations and delivering on customer service made the next step into a client servicing manager role with Rhenus Logistics (then World Net Logistics) in 2017 the obvious career choice,” she recalls.

Dynamic business environment

The transport and logistics field wasn’t quite what she expected. “The complexity and dynamic in global trade are incredible. There are so many moving parts and elements that must come together in the background for a consignment to move successfully and in line with the client’s expectations. Each part of the industry is so different and some are far more complex than others which you need to fully understand.”

Burrell says the landscape of the industry today is very different to what it was 12 years ago. “We live in a completely different world today; the industry is a whole new ball game. Rates are soaring, transit times remain unreliable, capacity within the airfreight market has decreased drastically and Rhenus and its clients have had to adapt exceptionally quickly to ensure stock is received timeously,” she reveals.

Many opportunities for women

According to Burrell, the industry is far more accepting of women in leadership positions today. “Women have proved their worth in the industry by using their strong administration and planning skills to their advantage to ensure that everything comes together successfully. I think women have already come a long way in terms of being successful in this industry. The value we add is being recognised,” she points out.

Rhenus, specifically, believes in fundamental equality and the company focuses on empowering employees. “Rhenus gives you an equal opportunity to grow and define your optimal career path, globally. You obtain regular training, the chance to study, and you receive support from the team in everything you do. Rhenus embraces diversity. Variety is a benefit in our organisation, and all employees are genuinely appreciated,” Burrell explains.

She is tangible evidence of this strategy – and she’s obviously very thrilled at her promotion. “Growing within the company for the past four years, I am now being given the opportunity to move into the position of General Manager at Rhenus Logistics from 1 September 2021; I am thrilled and very excited about my appointment.”

Diverse role

As General Manager, she is responsible for all operations at the Rhenus Johannesburg branch, which includes warehousing, air and ocean operations, as well as customs and pricing on a national level and, cross-border movements into Africa. “I’m very optimistic about the future. We have learnt to adapt and work within the current parameters we have been dealt with and I believe it teaches all of us that change is necessary to grow. I have heard of some of the greatest success stories during the pandemic and believe that we will be witnessing more of those. Difficulties always bring new opportunities. Digitalisation, for instance, will drive change in the industry. Live data is key for the transparency of global processes,” she believes.

She encourages other young women to consider joining the transport and logistics industry. “It is such a diverse and fast-paced industry. You will be challenged every day. You can spend an entire lifetime in this industry and still be exposed to information that will extend your boundaries and open your mind to the way various industries operate.

“Being in logistics exposes you to so much more than ‘transport’. It provides you with an understanding of global market trends that influence the decisions you make for your clients. If you embrace the ever-changing environment and daily learnings, you will love this industry.”

Well, one thing is certain: Rhenus, its clients and this industry certainly love Burrell.