Strategic leadership transition underscores GEODIS’ commitment to accelerating growth and operational excellence across its global freight forwarding business
Global logistics provider GEODIS has announced the appointment of Eric Gerbi as Executive Vice President (EVP) of its Global Freight Forwarding business, a move that reinforces the company’s focus on strengthening its international freight management capabilities amid an increasingly dynamic global supply chain environment.
In his new role, Gerbi will also join the Group’s Executive Board, chaired by Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS, placing him among the senior leadership team responsible for steering the company’s long-term global strategy and business development initiatives.
The appointment marks another significant milestone in Gerbi’s extensive career with GEODIS, where he has spent more than a decade progressing through a series of senior leadership positions across finance, supply chain operations and business management.
A Proven Leader with Deep GEODIS Experience
Gerbi brings a unique combination of financial expertise, operational knowledge and strategic leadership to the role, having gained extensive experience across multiple business units within the organization.
His professional journey began in the banking sector with BNP Paribas before transitioning into consulting and auditing with Deloitte in 2006, where he worked as a financial auditor. In 2008, he joined industrial manufacturing giant Saint-Gobain as a management controller, further strengthening his financial and operational management expertise.
Since joining GEODIS in 2011 as Financial Controller for the Americas region, Gerbi has played an increasingly influential role in the company’s growth and transformation efforts.
His leadership capabilities were quickly recognized, leading to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer of GEODIS’ Supply Chain Optimization (SCO) business in 2014. The role positioned him at the center of one of the company’s most strategically important divisions, overseeing financial planning and supporting the expansion of integrated supply chain solutions across global markets.
Expanding Responsibilities Across Business Functions
In 2018, Gerbi’s responsibilities expanded significantly when he was named Deputy Executive Vice President of the Supply Chain Optimization division while continuing to serve as CFO.
The dual role broadened his leadership scope beyond finance, placing him in charge of critical business functions including human resources, information technology, customer solutions and key account management. This period provided him with extensive exposure to customer-centric logistics strategies, digital transformation initiatives and talent management programs that have become increasingly important in today’s logistics landscape.
His ability to combine financial discipline with operational leadership led to his appointment as Executive Vice President of the SCO division in October 2021.
Under his leadership, the division continued to support customers seeking greater supply chain visibility, efficiency and resilience amid a period marked by significant disruption across global transportation networks.
Leading Global Freight Forwarding into Its Next Phase
Gerbi’s most recent position as Chief Financial Officer of GEODIS’ Global Freight Forwarding business, a role he assumed in 2024, provided him with direct insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping the international freight forwarding sector.
The business segment plays a critical role within GEODIS’ global portfolio, managing complex air, ocean and multimodal freight solutions that connect manufacturers, retailers and industrial customers across international markets.
As Executive Vice President, Gerbi is expected to focus on strengthening the division’s operational performance, enhancing customer service capabilities and supporting strategic growth initiatives across key trade lanes and regions.
His appointment comes at a time when freight forwarding companies are navigating evolving customer expectations, increasing digitalization, shifting trade patterns and growing demand for end-to-end supply chain visibility.
Industry observers view leadership continuity and deep organizational knowledge as critical advantages in an environment where logistics providers must balance efficiency, resilience and sustainability while responding to rapidly changing market conditions.
Supporting GEODIS’ Global Growth Strategy
The elevation of an experienced internal leader reflects GEODIS’ broader strategy of developing executive talent from within the organization while maintaining continuity across its business units.
Gerbi’s comprehensive understanding of finance, operations, technology and customer solutions positions him well to lead one of the company’s most strategically important divisions as freight forwarding continues to evolve through digital transformation and increasingly complex global supply chains.
His appointment also reinforces GEODIS’ commitment to strengthening its competitive position in the international freight forwarding market, where agility, operational excellence and customer-centric solutions remain key differentiators.
An engineering graduate of École des Mines de Nancy, Gerbi also holds a specialized Master’s degree in International Finance from HEC Business School, combining technical expertise with strong financial and strategic management credentials.
As global trade patterns continue to shift and supply chains become increasingly interconnected, his leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in guiding GEODIS’ freight forwarding operations through the next phase of growth and innovation.
