Former Polar Air Cargo Executive Takes Key Leadership Role as Atlas Strengthens Global Network Strategy and Operational Integration
Atlas Air has appointed veteran air cargo executive Kersti Krepp as Head of Global Scheduled Services, bringing nearly three decades of international industry experience to a strategic leadership position. The move comes as Atlas Air continues to evolve its scheduled cargo business following the restructuring of Polar Air Cargo and seeks to strengthen network performance, operational alignment and long-term growth across key global markets.
Atlas Air has reinforced its senior leadership team with the appointment of Kersti Krepp as Head of Global Scheduled Services, a role that places one of the air cargo industry’s most experienced executives at the center of the carrier’s global network development and transformation strategy.
Krepp, a highly respected figure within the international air freight sector, announced her new position in a LinkedIn post on May 27, confirming her transition to Atlas Air after nearly 24 years with Polar Air Cargo. According to her professional profile, she officially assumed the role in April 2026.
The appointment marks a significant leadership development for Atlas Air as the company continues to refine its global scheduled services strategy following the conclusion of the long-standing Polar Air Cargo joint venture between Atlas Air Worldwide and DHL.
Leadership Transition Follows Nearly 24 Years at Polar Air Cargo
Krepp’s move to Atlas Air follows an extensive career at Polar Air Cargo, where she held a series of senior leadership positions and played a key role in shaping the airline’s commercial and operational growth.
Her departure was first signaled in January 2026, when she announced plans to pursue a new professional opportunity after spending almost a quarter of a century with the cargo carrier.
During her tenure at Polar, Krepp most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Management Officer, overseeing key business functions during a period of significant industry change.
Prior to that role, she held positions including Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, as well as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Asia-Pacific region, gaining extensive experience across some of the world’s most important air cargo markets.
Her career spans nearly 30 years of leadership within the global air freight industry, covering operations and commercial management across Asia, North America and South America.
Industry observers regard her appointment as a strategic move that provides Atlas Air with deep expertise in scheduled cargo operations, international network planning and cross-regional business development.
Driving a Global Transformation Agenda
In her announcement, Krepp outlined the scope of her new responsibilities, describing the position as one focused on advancing Atlas Air’s global scheduled services platform through greater integration and operational alignment.
“The role carries a global transformation mandate — elevating Scheduled Services into a unified, cross-regional operating platform across Asia, the US, Central and South America, with clearer governance, stronger commercial-operational integration, and disciplined network contribution management,” Krepp said.
Her comments suggest Atlas Air is seeking to create a more coordinated and efficient scheduled services framework capable of supporting growing customer demand while improving network performance across multiple regions.
The focus on commercial and operational integration reflects broader trends within the air cargo industry, where carriers are increasingly aligning network planning, capacity management and customer service functions to improve profitability and enhance supply chain reliability.
Krepp also highlighted her long-standing relationship with Atlas Air and expressed enthusiasm about contributing directly to the company’s future growth.
“Having worked closely with Atlas over many years, it is both familiar and energising to now contribute from within — partnering across regions and functions to strengthen alignment, execution, and long-term enterprise value creation. I look forward to what we will build together,” she added.
Strategic Appointment During Industry Evolution
The appointment comes during a period of transformation for Atlas Air and the broader cargo aviation sector.
In February 2024, Atlas Air Worldwide and DHL announced the end of their 17-year joint venture partnership under Polar Air Cargo, stating that the arrangement no longer aligned with their long-term strategic objectives.
While the joint venture structure concluded, Atlas Air retained ownership of Polar Air Cargo’s operating certificate, and Polar continues to provide certain airline operational services in selected markets.
The restructuring represented a significant milestone for both organisations and reflected changing dynamics within the global air cargo marketplace, where airlines are reassessing partnerships, network strategies and fleet deployment models in response to evolving customer requirements and market conditions.
Industry analysts believe that strengthening Atlas Air’s scheduled services business is a natural next step as the company continues expanding its role within global air cargo, e-commerce and outsourced aviation logistics markets.
Deep Expertise Across Global Cargo Markets
Krepp’s extensive international experience is expected to be particularly valuable as Atlas Air continues to strengthen its presence across key global trade corridors.
Having spent much of her career working across Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America, she brings a comprehensive understanding of international freight flows, customer requirements and regional market dynamics.
Her background also includes navigating periods of significant industry disruption, from economic cycles and capacity shifts to regulatory changes and operational challenges.
Such expertise is increasingly important as cargo airlines face a rapidly changing environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade patterns, growing e-commerce demand and the ongoing digitalisation of logistics networks.
A Proven Industry Leader
Beyond her commercial achievements, Krepp has earned recognition throughout the industry for her leadership capabilities and contributions to organisational transformation.
In 2024, she spoke publicly about Polar Air Cargo’s efforts to strengthen its corporate culture and governance following a high-profile fraud case that affected the company. Her leadership during that period was widely viewed as part of the organisation’s efforts to rebuild trust, reinforce compliance and strengthen operational integrity.
That experience, combined with her commercial expertise and global leadership background, positions her well to support Atlas Air’s ambitions for operational excellence and sustainable growth.
Supporting Atlas Air’s Long-Term Vision
As one of the world’s leading providers of outsourced aviation logistics and freighter capacity, Atlas Air continues to expand its role in global supply chains through a combination of scheduled services, ACMI operations, charter solutions and strategic partnerships.
The appointment of Krepp signals the company’s commitment to strengthening its scheduled services platform and creating a more integrated network capable of responding to evolving customer demands.
Her leadership is expected to play an important role in improving network coordination, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting commercial growth across key international markets.
For Atlas Air, the addition of one of the industry’s most experienced cargo executives represents not only a leadership enhancement but also a strategic investment in the future of its global scheduled services business.
As air cargo markets continue to evolve, Krepp’s appointment underscores the growing importance of experienced leadership in navigating complexity, strengthening customer relationships and building resilient global cargo networks.
