Logistics is not just about transporting goods but also about managing the information related to those goods. Torsten Kruse, Vice President at Yes Logistics Europe GmbH, believes that clear visibility of data, in real-time, is essential for effective logistics management. By achieving this, Yes Logistics Europe GmbH aims to redefine logistics by prioritizing information visibility and accessibility for clients and stakeholders.
Torsten envisions building a globally acting company with a presence in all major countries, ports, and airports. His vision includes specialized warehouse units or Multi Logistics Centres equipped with highly automated workflows and intra logistics systems.
Currently, the company’s footprint is primarily Asia-driven, with a focus on Intra-Asia business. This positioning allows Yes Logistics Europe GmbH to offer EU companies specialized solutions in these markets that many other EU-based companies cannot provide.
Looking ahead, the company is committed to digitalization with a focus on achieving clear visibility across all operations. Over the next 3 to 4 years, Torsten aims to reduce communication impact for staff by developing IT systems that streamline workflows and prioritize exception management. The goal is to provide clients and their suppliers with full access to their data in real-time, ensuring timely and accurate information exchange.
A Journey of Growth and Leadership
Torsten has been with YES Logistics for a decade, serving in various roles before assuming his current position. Initially joining the company with a focus on sales and development, Torsten aimed to expand the company’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe while managing key accounts.
After a year, Torsten’s role shifted internally to leverage his deep logistics knowledge in restructuring core capabilities and developing strategic business units within the company.
Torsten’s professional journey began with a classic two-way professional job training in Germany, where he gained operational experience alongside formal education. He then transitioned to the Ocean Export department within the same company, eventually assuming a team lead position.
Seeking new challenges, Torsten took on a sales role at an international trading company, selling industrial chemicals from Chinese factories to African markets. His travels to countries like Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Cameroon provided valuable insights into global trade and life experiences.
Torsten’s passion for the logistics sector led him to join YES Logistics, influenced by a personal connection to his mentor, the former leader of the company. His mentor imparted crucial knowledge, emphasizing the importance of IT development and arrangements in logistics, which continues to guide Torsten’s approach in his current role.
Tailored Solutions and Expertise
According to Torsten, YES Logistics, headquartered in Taipei, originates from the shipping industry, boasting its own fleet of vessels with a significant presence in container liner operations. As part of the Yang Ming Group, YES Logistics offers a comprehensive range of services including bulk shipping, trucking, stevedoring, terminal services, and logistics arrangements.
Founded in 1999 to meet the increasing global demand for port-to-port and door-to-door logistics solutions, YES Logistics has expanded its operations to Taiwan, China, Thailand, Europe, and the USA. Today, the company has diversified into various logistics sectors, including specialized hubs for fresh and frozen food in Asia, establishment of Free Trade Zones for EU B2B in Asia, and Multi-Logistics Service Centers in Germany.
YES Logistics prides itself on providing tailor-made solutions for its clients, with a commitment to excellence evident in its ISO certifications and compliance with GDP standards. Despite being a relatively young company, YES Logistics has become a major player in international logistics, offering services such as contract logistics, supply chain management, order and vendor management, and inventory management for both B2B and B2C clients.
A notable specialization of YES Logistics in Europe is its Multi-Logistics Centre in the Frankfurt/Main area, which handles multi-order pick and pack business, particularly for e-commerce. With the capability to process over 25,000 picks per day, YES Logistics utilizes EDI exchange for efficient operations. The company was among the first to resume shipping to the UK post-Brexit, demonstrating its expertise in customs processes and last-mile delivery.
Additionally, YES Logistics provides temperature-controlled warehousing for food-related products, ensuring full control and monitoring of storage conditions. The company also serves as a contract partner for a leading pharmaceutical producer, offering various solutions such as testing incoming shipments from China and supplying production plants on a daily basis.
Leading with Empathy
Torsten deeply values emotional intelligence and understands the importance of comprehending people and their behavior. He believes that listening and self-reflection are crucial for personal growth and effective leadership. Embracing the philosophy of Servant Leadership, Torsten finds fulfillment in supporting others’ personal development rather than focusing solely on business objectives. He acknowledges that leaders are not always right and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and admitting faults.
Reflection plays a key role in Torsten’s leadership approach, as he believes it is essential for moving forward. Mental health is a priority for him, and he advocates for Servant Leadership principles to promote well-being within his team. Torsten emphasizes that while financial stability is important, it should not be the sole motivator in life, and status holds little significance to him. He believes there are no shortcuts to success and sees leadership as a responsibility to facilitate the growth of others rather than an ego trip.
Fostering Unity, Growth, and Respect
Torsten emphasizes three areas he would like to improve in society, organization, or people’s lives:
- Unity and Collaboration: In the face of current geopolitical challenges, Torsten believes that unity is crucial for the survival and advancement of civilization. He advocates for people to come together, share smiles, and respect one another. He emphasizes the strength of collective action over individual importance, highlighting the power of collaboration in overcoming obstacles.
- Continuous Development and Change: Within his organization, Torsten sees potential for development and change. He stresses the importance of concentrating on local business units while expanding into niche markets to enhance capabilities across the entire group of companies. By focusing on synergy and cooperation, the organization can better serve its global clientele and adapt to evolving market dynamics.
- Effective Communication and Respect: Torsten underscores the significance of communication and respect in both societal interactions and organizational settings. He believes that effective communication, coupled with mutual respect for counterparts, fosters understanding, collaboration, and positive relationships. These values contribute to a harmonious and productive environment, both within the organization and in society at large.
Balancing Leadership and Well-being
Torsten assumes responsibility for all sectors within the company’s Europe business, including operations, finance, human resources, sales, marketing, new product development, and investment plans. He takes pride in leading the organization and ensuring the smooth operation of all departments.
To maintain focus and productivity, Torsten adopts a disciplined daily routine. He starts his day by being the first in the office, allowing himself at least one hour of uninterrupted time to organize and prepare for the day ahead. Additionally, Torsten incorporates physical activity into his routine, ensuring he takes a walk during the noon hours to achieve a minimum of 3500 steps. In the evening, he prioritizes sports to promote physical well-being and mental relaxation.
This structured approach to his daily routine allows Torsten to effectively manage his responsibilities as a leader while also prioritizing his personal health and well-being.
Building High-Performing Teams
Torsten recognizes the importance of finding the right people to fit into his team, and he particularly values the DISC Psychometric Profiling method for assessing individuals’ traits and tendencies. He understands that hiring the wrong person can have detrimental effects on a team or company, and he prioritizes finding candidates with the right spirit and motivation.
Torsten acknowledges the differences in work ethics between Western Europe and some emerging Asian markets, noting the drive and growth mindset prevalent in the latter. To bridge this gap, he has implemented initiatives to attract talent from diverse backgrounds, including lateral entries from unrelated fields. These individuals bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the team, contributing to innovation and growth.
To support new hires, Torsten has established mentoring, training, and welcome programs to facilitate their integration into the company. By investing in the development and well-being of his team members, Torsten ensures that they are equipped to thrive in their roles and contribute to the organization’s success.
Expanding Horizons at YES Logistics Europe
Taking on the leadership role at YES Logistics Europe was undoubtedly the most significant risk in Torsten’s professional career. Following the sudden passing of his mentor during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Torsten found himself thrust into a unique and daunting situation. Building trust with the headquarters and demonstrating his capability to lead the company according to the group’s requirements became his immediate priority.
As the company continues to grow, Torsten remains focused on strengthening the management team by recruiting individuals with strong commercial skills to drive forward the current business plans and support growth initiatives. One of his personal goals is to establish a new warehousing unit at an emerging location, encompassing approximately 24,000 square meters. While Torsten is cautious about revealing too many details regarding this project, he is actively working on negotiations with potential partners to bring this vision to fruition.
In addition to expanding the company’s physical infrastructure, Torsten is also prioritizing the establishment of a back office for handling standard operational tasks. Negotiations with potential partners for this initiative are already underway, marking significant progress towards achieving this goal. Through strategic planning and decisive action, Torsten is leading YES Logistics Europe towards continued success and growth in the logistics industry.
Guiding Principles for New Leaders
Torsten’s advice to someone stepping into a leadership position for the first time is simple yet profound: Trust in yourself, listen to others, surround yourself with trusted advisors, and keep moving forward. He emphasizes the importance of self-confidence and encourages new leaders to rely on their instincts while also valuing the perspectives of those around them. Building a support network of trusted individuals who can provide guidance and insight is essential for navigating the challenges of leadership. Torsten underscores the importance of persistence and resilience, urging new leaders to persevere even when faced with difficulties. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of staying committed to the journey and never giving up, even when the path ahead seems challenging.
