DHL Express appoints new CIO for Asia Pacific to drive digital acceleration and talent growth

• Succeeds Jimmy Yeoh, who retires at the end of 2025 after 33 years with DHL
• Joined DHL Express in 1990 & has held diverse roles across IT, commercial & operations

DHL Express, the leading international express service provider, has appointed Karen Tan (pic) as chief information officer (CIO) for the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, Tan succeeds Jimmy Yeoh, who will retire from the organisation at the end of 2025 after 33 years of dedicated service.

Before taking on this new role, Tan served as CIO for DHL Express Singapore, where she led the development of a nationwide digitalisation framework, strengthened data protection and information security practices, and significantly improved employee engagement and leadership scores within the IT team. She also served as the company’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) champion, collaborating with global DPO and legal teams to ensure that policies and processes were in place to manage personal data effectively.

In addition, she acted as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging champion, spearheading initiatives such as International Women’s Day, International Men’s Day and Generations Day, with the aim of fostering a more inclusive and empowered workplace.

In her new role, Tan will oversee the region’s IT infrastructure, digital acceleration roadmap and cybersecurity strategy, supporting a network that spans more than 40 countries and territories. Her leadership will be crucial in facilitating collaboration and communication across multiple teams to ensure seamless cross-border trade and best-in-class service for customers.

“Digitalisation remains one of the megatrends DHL Group has identified as impacting the logistics industry. Our Strategy 2030 has firmly emphasised growing this segment to accelerate digital innovation for enhanced customer experience – a robust IT strategy will empower us to become more agile, reliable and resilient,” said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

“As we focus on developing our people and nurturing talent from within, Tan’s proven track record in driving digital acceleration, data protection and cross-functional collaboration makes her the ideal leader to take our Asia Pacific IT function to the next level. Her people-first approach and passion for innovation will be instrumental in supporting our teams and delivering value to our customers.”

Commenting on her appointment, Tan said: “As digital ecosystems grow more complex, the challenges around cybersecurity and data protection remain highly critical. While we manage these risks with care and precision, it is equally important that we uphold the standards and quality of both employee and customer experience. Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse region, and I am honoured to take on this role and work closely with a passionate team committed to driving innovation and operational excellence every day.”

Tan began her career at DHL Express in 1990 as a customer service trainer and has since held a wide range of roles across the DHL Group, including IT, commercial and operations. From 2014, she served as Vice President of Operations Programmes for Asia Pacific, before taking on the CIO role at DHL Express Singapore in 2021.