For this edition of Apollo in the Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce Martijn Tenniglo from Logimark in Hanoi, Vietnam. With more than 30 years of experience in the international freight industry, Martijn shares his journey into logistics, his views on risk management and innovation, and what makes strong global partnerships so valuable in today’s ever-changing logistics world.
We’d love to hear your story – how did you get started in the logistics world, and what motivated you to stay?
After spending my early 20s as a bartender in a nightclub in Amsterdam, it was time to find a more serious job. I started working for a small freight forwarder in Los Angeles called American Overseas Air Freight. There, I learned the air freight industry in detail and realized I could turn this into a career that would never be boring.
How does your team approach risk management, and what’s one piece of advice you’d give to other about mitigating risks?
For an organization like ours, operating in 12 different countries, there are various risks that we need to manage both locally at station level as well as at group level. We identify and document these risks and then set a plan for how to approach each individual risk, either locally or via our HQ in Hong Kong. We have short lines of communication within our Management Team, where we discuss these risks and agree on how to deal with them.
If you set your risk profile too strict, you lose out on growth and good opportunities, yet if you set it too loose, there can be dire consequences. With both our industry and the outside world ever-changing, you need to review these risks regularly.
What does innovation mean to you in the context of logistics, and how do you foster it in your organization?
Innovation is driven by both our management as well as on the work floor. We review internal and external processes dynamically and on a regular basis. Involving staff is the key point, as they are the drivers of our business and are directly involved in these processes. We have our teams actively involved in improving the way Logimark does things.
What do you enjoy most about the logistics industry, and what makes your role particularly fulfilling?
The international contacts and business friendships that I have made over the past 30+ years are what I like the most. We have partners worldwide, and it is always a pleasure to hear from our partners what is going on in their markets. It gives valuable input on how to tackle certain issues and problems. The constant dynamics of the international freight industry also mean that we are constantly facing new challenges, which is exciting — well, most of the time.
Is there a specific project or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of? Tell us about it.
I am extremely proud of the fact that we were able to grow Logimark from 1 office in Hong Kong to 25 offices in 12 countries in 3 years. While we did have some luck on our side as well, it was a team effort where everyone worked incredibly hard to achieve this goal.
Can you share a specific example of a collaboration or connection within the network that led to a successful project or partnership?
We have been a member of Apollo for only a few months, but have been members of the other networks of the Atlas International group for 5 years already. One of the more memorable meetings was during the Alfa conference in Bali a few years back. There, I got in contact with Martin Cunningham from Hawthorn Logistics in Ireland. During our discussion, we found out about many mutual connections and friends that we have from his time living in Asia a long time ago, and we have built up a successful partnership with Hawthorn. Martin is a class act and, besides being a good businessman, a wonderful and interesting person to catch up with.
What’s one thing you think makes this network different from other professional associations or logistics groups?
The members are of a high level, which is the key ingredient for a successful network. Plus, whenever we need something, Geert van Doorslaer is a WhatsApp message, phone call, or email away and has been a great help in this.
What’s the funniest or strangest item you’ve ever had to transport?
25 years ago, I worked for a company where one of our main verticals was the air freight of human remains. It definitely wasn’t funny, but nonetheless had its own challenges, and the pressure was on to make it happen, as you knew mourning family members were counting on you to make it happen.
Thank you, Martijn, for sharing your story and valuable insights with us for Apollo in the Spotlight.