DHL Express has appointed Darryl Wettlaufer as its new CEO in Canada, marking his return to the country after three years leading operations for the company’s regional hubs in the U.S.

Wettlaufer, who joined DHL Express in 2006 as operations manager in Canada, will report to Andrew Williams, CEO of DHL Express Americas, and will be based in Brampton, Ont.

He succeeds Geoff Walsh, who was promoted to managing director of DHL Express Central Europe.

As CEO, Wettlaufer will oversee operations across Canada, leading a team of 2,700 employees serving more than 50,000 customers.

“Darryl has a proven track record of operational excellence and people-first leadership,” Williams said in the release. “His deep understanding of our network, combined with his ability to drive transformation and build high-performing teams, makes him the ideal leader to continue growing our business in Canada.”

Over nearly two decades with the company, Wettlaufer rose through several leadership roles, including vice-president of operations and a seat on DHL Express Canada’s management board, according to a news release. He helped shape the company’s facility infrastructure roadmap and guided its Canadian operations through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, he moved to South Florida to oversee DHL Express Americas regional hubs in Miami and Panama, later taking on leadership of the company’s Atlanta and Cincinnati hubs.

“Coming home to lead this incredible team is more than just a professional move for me; it’s deeply personal,” Wettlaufer said. “My priorities are clear: to keep DHL Express Canada agile and responsive to a rapidly changing market, and to empower our customers, especially small and medium businesses, to thrive in today’s dynamic world of global trade.”