Ken Allen (businessman)
Ken Allen (born 1955) is a British businessman[1] and author[2]. He was the Global Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express, part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group from 2009 to 2018[3]. In January 2019, Allen became CEO of DHL eCommerce Solutions and Board Member for Customer Solutions & Innovation at Deutsche Post DHL Group[4][5]
Allen is credited with leading DHL's turnaround in 2010, by implementing DHL’s FOCUS strategy and establishing the employee engagement Certified International Specialist program[6]. In July 2019 Allen authored his first business and management book Radical Simplicity[2][7].
Early years[edit]
Ken Allen was born in 1955 in Horbury, West Yorkshire. He studied accountancy at Leeds University and qualified as a Certified Accountant in 1981. Allen is a Fellow of the British Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA)[8]
Books[edit]
Allen is the author of the management and business philosophy book Radical Simplicity[2][7], published by Penguin Random House in July 2019. The book outlines his personal story to global CEO and focuses on strategies including his 'SELF reflection'[9][10] framework to address and overcome complex business challenges[11].
Business career[edit]
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- Ken Allen began his career working in the accounting department of the Slazenger factory in his home town of Horbury, Yorkshire[12].
- He joined DHL in 1985 working in the Middle East where, in 1991, he became Regional Manager[13].
- In 1998 he was made Chief Financial Officer for the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions[14]. During this time Deutsche Post acquired the DHL operation[15].
- In 2004, Allen was asked by Deutsche Post DHL CEO Frank Appel, to become president of DHL Express Canada overseeing the company’s integration activities in the country[16]. In 2006, Allen then moved to Brussels to become CEO of the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region consisting of 88 countries[17].
- In 2008, Allen was appointed CEO of DHL Express USA in order to address major issues in the country’s domestic operations[18]. Following the acquisition of Airborne Express, the DHL business was losing more than $100 million a month, and threatening the future of the DPDHL group. During the period of global financial recession in 2008, Allen instigated the closure of DPDHL’s domestic operations in the country, instead focusing on international global express shipping services. This business decision making process typifies Allen's 'radical simplicity' approach.
- In 2009, Allen was appointed to the role of Global CEO for DHL Express and a member of the Board of Deutsche Post, where his focus was on growing market share in the International Time Definite Express shipping business[19] achieving industry-leading margins of over 12%[20].
- In 2010, Allen launched the Certified International Specialist programme for DHL staff in 220 countries and territories[21]. This internal career development programme has contributed towards DHL's rankings.
- In 2018 DHL was named 6th Best Places to Work in the world [22] by Fortune magazine and the Best Place to Work organization.
- In October 2019 DHL Express was named number 4 on the World’s Best Workplaces[23]
- In January 2019, Allen became CEO of DHL eCommerce Solutions and Board Member for Customer Solutions & Innovation at Deutsche Post DHL Group[4][5]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Ken M Allen". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ken Allen". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "DHL | Press Release | English". www.dhl.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hensel, Birgit (2018), "Innovation in der urbanen Logistik: Elektromobilität bei Deutsche Post DHL Group", Klimaneutralität – Hessen 5 Jahre weiter, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, pp. 212–217, ISBN 978-3-658-20605-5, retrieved 2019-12-19
- ↑ Allen, Ken (2019-03-28). "The Former CEO of DHL Express on Leading the Company Through an Existential Crisis". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Radical Simplicity : How simplicity transformed a loss-making mega brand into a world-class performer. 2019-07-26. ISBN 978-1-5291-0472-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "DPDHL Board of Management - Ken Allen". DPDHL Board of Management. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Allen, Ken (2019-09-05). Radical Simplicity: How simplicity transformed a loss-making mega brand into a world-class performer. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4735-6988-1. Search this book on
- ↑ SELF REFLECTION - A simple framework for failproof business plans, retrieved 2019-12-19
- ↑ Lyons, Erin (2019-09-05). "Recommended reading: Location-based ad fraud and career breaks". Marketing Week. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ Allen, Ken (2019-09-05). Radical Simplicity: How simplicity transformed a loss-making mega brand into a world-class performer. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4735-6988-1. Search this book on
- ↑ Allen, Ken (2019-09-05). Radical Simplicity: How simplicity transformed a loss-making mega brand into a world-class performer. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4735-6988-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "A Conversation with Ken Allen". www.spencerstuart.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "Deutsche Post", Wikipedia, 2019-10-31, retrieved 2019-12-19
- ↑ Nov 1; News | 0, 2002 | (2002-11-01). "DHL takes over Canadian courier service Loomis". Post & Parcel. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ Events, UKi Media & (2011-02-16). "John Pearson appointed CEO of DHL Express Europe". Parcel and Postal Technology International. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ Allen, Ken (2019-03-28). "The Former CEO of DHL Express on Leading the Company Through an Existential Crisis". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "DP DHL Business Profile - Investor Relations 2018" (PDF). DPDHL.COM. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "How Ken Allen transformed the way DHL does business | Discover DHL". discover.dhl.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "These Are 2018's World's Best Workplaces". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ "How the World's Best Workplaces Create a Great Global Culture". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
External links[edit]
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