executive impact

DHL Supply Chain: People and logistics

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By Mike de Jong for EURObiZ Japan

Growing up in a land of longstanding sectarian strife, Gavin Murdoch learned a thing or two about human relations. The native of Belfast, Northern Ireland left his hometown at a relatively early age, but says part of what he learned there stayed with him.

“I guess it makes you more determined not to let outside factors influence you, because life goes on,” says Murdoch, of his years in the often bitterly divided territory. “You know, even though there are terrible things happening around, for most people, life goes on,” he adds. “And most people don’t get caught up in terrible events. So you shouldn’t allow that to overtake your world.”

But Murdoch, now president and representative director of DHL Supply Chain in Japan, jokingly shares the most important lesson learned from his youth.

“I think avoiding any discussion of religion or politics wherever I go is the key point,” he laughs. “Avoid the contentious issues.”

Murdoch’s ability to manage people is probably why he has risen to the top of his industry. As country manager for DHL Supply Chain in Japan, he oversees a staff of more than 1,000 employees. The firm operates across four sectors: technology, consumer-retail, life sciences-healthcare, and automotive. For Murdoch, it was an industry that attracted him from an early age.

“From around 16, I decided I wanted to have a career in logistics,” he says. “I had a real interest in shipping, aircraft … whatever it might be. My father had a small business around Belfast port, selling and hiring out forklift trucks. So I guess it was in the family.”

Murdoch actually got his first chance to work for his present employer as a university student. Although he left for graduate school and work with other firms in retail and logistics, Murdoch was drawn back to DHL in 1996 (known then as Exel Logistics). On one occasion, he was sent to set up a joint venture in Turkey.

“In the end, we bought out our JV partner and that business developed very nicely,” he says. “I stayed there just over two years.”

Murdoch’s first stint in Japan came in 2005. He stayed for four years before returning to the UK. Last year, DHL Supply Chain brought him back.

“I’m obviously back working with a lot of people I knew from my previous time here,” he says. “I’ve spent the last nine months getting to grips with the key issues in the business and trying to understand how I make changes to put really good people into roles that play to their strengths.

“My belief is really understanding individuals and getting them roles that fit because, if we are a people business, we will be successful if our people are better than our competitor’s people.

“Fundamentally, our people make the difference,” he says. “They create the ideas, they create the relationships; and, therefore, we’ve got to create the right environment for them to succeed.”

Murdoch sees part of his task here as helping his industry survive Japan’s daunting demographic changes. As the new chairman of the EBC Logistics and Freight Committee, he says attracting people in a declining workforce will be a major issue for not just his company, but also its competitors.

“I’m not sure as an industry we’ve really got any of the answers yet,” he says. “We’re starting to understand some of the challenges. We really need to get our minds around how we address them collectively.”

Time spent working in Japan: Almost 25% of my career.

Career regret (if any): I wish I had taken time out after university to work in a ski resort for a season.

Favourite saying: “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Sir Winston Churchill

Favorite book: "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown.

Cannot live without: BBC World News (and of course my family).

Lesson learned in Japan: Allow more time for discussion and alignment before making any major change.

Secret of success in business: Having the determination to succeed and staying focused on safety, customers, staff and the targets.

Favorite place to dine out: Shin Hinomoto (Yurakucho).

Do you like natto? Surprisingly I have not been offered natto yet (nor have I gone looking for it, it is fair to say).

© Japan Today

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5 Comments
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DHL don't do deliveries in the evening nor week-ends.

Pass to it local express devlivery companies by default...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hard to reconcile

Time spent working in Japan: Almost 25% of my career. with Surprisingly I have not been offered natto yet (nor have I gone looking for it, it is fair to say).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

DHL does a really great job. Thank you for your service!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What is "natto"?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What is "natto"?

The opposite of "izu".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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