One year on the road: Markus Voss reflects on his first year as CEO

When Markus Voss became CEO of DHL Freight on September 1, 2025, he already knew the DHL Group and many DHL customers well. After more than two decades in different leadership roles, he understood the business, the industry and many of its challenges.

What he could not fully appreciate until stepping into the role, however, was the incredible scale of DHL Freight and the people behind it.

Over the past twelve months, Markus has spent much of his time on the road, visiting terminals, meeting customers and connecting with colleagues across Europe. Those conversations have shaped his first year as much as any strategy workshop or leadership meeting.

I've enjoyed the ride quite intensively. Although I've been in the company for so many years, you realize how big this DHL company is and how many more colleagues you can still get to know. Meeting colleagues and customers across the network has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Markus Voss, CEO DHL Freight

Looking back, one moment stands out in particular. Earlier this year, leaders from across Europe gathered in Bonn for the Freight Management Conference, where DHL Freight's new strategy framework “Road to Excellence” was presented and discussed. For Markus, it was more than a business event. It was the moment he felt the organization's energy and determination coming together around a shared ambition.

“The engagement and the enthusiasm of the team were really inspiring. People believed in the strategy and wanted to be part of the journey. It made us stronger as a team and as an organization we are working better together than ever before.”

That journey has taken place against a backdrop of significant market challenges, from geopolitical uncertainty and capacity shortages to ongoing transformation across the logistics industry. Yet Markus is convinced that DHL Freight is well positioned for the future.

His vision is clear: strengthen quality, accelerate digitalization, grow in key sectors such as Life Sciences & Healthcare and technology logistics, and create an even better experience for customers and employees alike – and it starts with each & every colleague in DHL Freight.

But when asked what inspires him most, Markus does not talk first about systems, products or financial performance.

He talks about people.

One of his favorite memories comes from a visit to France, where he decided to hold a town hall in French. While his French had not been used much in recent years, he wanted to connect with colleagues in a more personal way.

“The feedback and the warmth of the colleagues in France was overwhelming. It showed me how much these personal connections matter.”

Experiences like this, whether in Cologne, Munich, Erlensee or Paris and Stockholm or one of the many DHL Freight terminals across Europe, have reinforced a key belief: strong results start with strong teams.

That is why Markus continues to put a strong focus on building a culture of ownership, trust and entrepreneurship.

“Whether you run a night shift in a terminal, work as a dispatcher or interact with customers every day, your decisions make a difference. My goal is to empower people to make those decisions and take ownership.”

As he enters his second year as CEO, Markus remains ambitious about what lies ahead. While he is encouraged by the progress already made, he sees even greater opportunities in front of DHL Freight.

We are making good progress, but we have not reached our full potential yet. What gives me confidence is the team we have built together and the commitment I see across the organization every day.

Markus Voss, CEO DHL Freight

One year in, Markus' message is simple: thank you. Thank you to the colleagues he has met across the network, the customers who continue to place their trust in DHL Freight, and the teams that are driving the company's transformation every day.

The journey continues, and Markus is excited for what comes next – DHL, the most digital road freight company.