left-right: Incoming Chairman Sebastiaan Scholte thanks outgoing Chairman Sanjiv Edward at TIACA’s Executive Summit in Miami, Florida

The Board of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has appointed Sebastiaan Scholte, CEO of Jan de Rijk Logistics, its new chairman, and Steven Polmans, head of Cargo and Logistics at Brussels Airport Company, as vice chairman.

Scholte, who has been TIACA vice chairman for two and a half years, takes over from Sanjiv Edward, head of Cargo Business, Delhi International Airport.

In thanking Edwards for his dedication and energy, TIACA secretary general Vladimir Zubkov said the organization was fortunate to have two such experienced Board members.

Scholte's air cargo experience includes executive positions at Aeromexico and Cargolux prior to his appointment in 2010 as CEO of Jan de Rijk Logistics.

"TIACA is, and will be, the only organization covering the whole air cargo supply chain, and in order to stay and become more relevant we will now work on becoming more agile and engaging more with our membership base," he commented.

"There is a need for more transparency and visibility across the supply chain and TIACA can play a role in facilitating this. "In addition, we must ensure we are motivating the next generation of air cargo leaders and you can expect to see TIACA putting an emphasis on training and encouraging young people to join the industry."

Polmans' two decades in the air cargo industry includes working for ground handler Aviapartner and logistics marketing specialist GLU4 BV. He joined the Brussels Airport Company in 2010 and became head of Cargo in 2012.

He is also chairman of Air Cargo Belgium, an initiative bringing together airlines, handlers, forwarders and the airport authority for the greater good of the community.

"Collaboration and cooperation between all parties in the air cargo supply chain is the only way forward to solve many of today's issues," noted Polmans. "TIACA is the only organization representing all of those different players, and we are the natural platform to facilitate genuine collaboration and work towards a more innovative and quality- driven industry," he added.