DHL Express Credits Certified International Specialists Program with Transforming Company Culture

• Innovative learning and development platform delivered to over 2,000 employees in Hong Kong; over 100,000 employees across 220 countries and territories
• CEO, Ken Allen: "The Certified International Specialists program has played a fundamental role in the business performance of DHL Express"

HONG KONG, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DHL Express, a division of Deutsche Post DHL, has credited its innovative "Certified International Specialists" learning and development program (CIS) with being one of the principal factors in the company's performance in Hong Kong and worldwide. As a change management initiative, the award-winning program has been instrumental in instituting a cultural transformation within DHL Express and reinforcing the company's international market leadership.

"The Certified International Specialists program is much more than a training platform. It has instituted a cultural shift within our company and had a tangible positive impact on the skills and engagement of our employees," said Ken Allen, CEO, DHL Express. "In 2012, our division recorded the highest earnings in its history, and this would not have been possible without an engaged global workforce focused on international express delivery. CIS has played a fundamental role in the business performance of DHL Express."

"To accomplish DHL Express' commitment to be an Employer and Provider of Choice, we must invest in our greatest asset - our workforce, who directly influence the experience of our customers," said Ken Lee, Head of Commercial, Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Hong Kong and Macau. "A hundred per cent of our staff in Hong Kong has already completed the Foundation training, resulting in improvements in our staff engagement and our level of service. This directly helps to reinforce our market-leading position as the international specialists in the express industry."

In 2010, with the aim of improving its financial position and building on its market leadership within Asia Pacific, Europe and Emerging Markets, the company announced a strategic focus on the core competence of international express delivery. As part of Deutsche Post DHL's Strategy 2015, built around three bottom lines of Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice and Investment of Choice, the focus returned the company to the service offering that had led to its rapid growth and establishment as a globally recognized brand name since its foundation in 1969.

In order to reinforce the international focus throughout the organization and deliver against the Employer of Choice aspiration, DHL Express launched the Certified International Specialists program globally in July 2010. The program employs innovative learning methodologies to train employees across all functions on the fundamentals of international shipping, enhancing their knowledge of essential aspects, such as Incoterms, import / export documentation, and transport regulations and processes. The training sessions themselves are delivered by employees trained as facilitators. Through video interviews, it has also engaged former executives of the company in telling the story of the entrepreneurial roots of DHL and the values that helped the company to become a global leader in logistics. To date, CIS has been delivered to over 100 000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, making it one of the largest corporate training programs ever implemented. The materials have been translated into 42 languages.

CIS has been recognized with a number of awards around the world in 2012 and 2013, including the Distinction in Leadership award at the HR Directors Summit and Best Commercial Program at the Training Journal Awards in the UK, as well as a Silver Award for Sales Training Program of the Year at the US Stevie Awards.

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DHL - The Logistics company for the world

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and "The Logistics company for the world". DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 285,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting environmental protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of more than 55 billion euros in 2012.

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