Rousing a sleeping giant

摘要

Panalpina, the Swiss provider of forwarding and logistics services, has until recently been a sleeping giant in the shipping world. The Panalpina Group, based in Basel, Switzerland, operates a global networkcom-prising 480 branches in 74 countries, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Yet aside from issuing dutiful financial reports at requisite intervals, Panalpina's management has kept a very low profile. "We probably have been keeping a bit too low of a profile in North America," David I. Beatson, regional chief executive officer for Panalpina North America, told American Shipper in an interview. "I think you can expect a continuing reticence on our part in that regard. We won't be saturating the press with daily bulletins," Beatson said. "Yet you'll see, I believe, more of the contours of the company revealed as we expand our marketing presence." Bruno Sidler, chief executive officer of the Panalpina Group, acting in consort with the company's executive board, decided earlier in 2003 to move more aggressively into the North American market, Beatson said.