DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, the air, ocean, and road freight specialist arm of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has announced the appointment of Tobias Maier as Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region, effective 1 December 2025.
Maier succeeds Amadou Diallo, who will be stepping down after more than eight years of leadership that delivered strong regional growth, digital transformation, and operational excellence.
Since joining DHL in 2008, Maier has held several key leadership roles, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer for DHL Global Forwarding, Freight Middle East & Africa, and Chief Executive of Saloodo! Middle East & Africa, DHL’s digital freight platform.
Under his leadership, Maier played a pivotal role in expanding DHL’s footprint across Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Ethiopia, and the UAE, as well as spearheading strategic M&A initiatives and launching DHL’s RailDirect joint venture with Etihad Rail — enhancing multimodal connectivity across the region.
Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, said:
“Tobias is a forward-thinking leader with a strong track record of delivering results and driving innovation.
His deep understanding of the region and commitment to digital transformation make him the ideal choice to lead our business into its next chapter.”
DHL credited outgoing CEO Amadou Diallo with leaving behind “a legacy of growth and innovation.” Since taking the helm in 2017, Diallo has led DHL Global Forwarding’s expansion across the Middle East and Africa, championed sustainable logistics solutions, and guided significant investments in people, technology, and infrastructure.
De Bok added:
“We are deeply grateful to Amadou for his outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication to our people, customers, and partners. His vision and passion have left an indelible mark on our organisation.”
With Maier’s appointment, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight reaffirms its commitment to driving sustainable growth, digital integration, and customer-centric innovation across one of its most dynamic and fast-growing regions.