By land, sea, or air – for Kuehne+Nagel, it doesn’t matter how your cargo needs to be transported. The global logistics giant recently appointed Simon Bitter as Managing Director for Belgium and Luxembourg. We spoke with him, Simon Bitter, about the future of the industry, today’s challenges, and why Transport & Logistics is such an important meeting place for the sector.
Simon Bitter brings more than twenty years of experience within Kuehne+Nagel. His career started in 2005 in Luxembourg. “I have held various roles across different domains: quality management, key account management, and later road logistics. From 2012 to 2015, I was part of the BeLux management team, so coming back to the region feels a bit like coming home,” he explains.
After his time in Belgium, Simon spent six years managing global road logistics for the pharma and healthcare sector, followed by four years heading road logistics in Germany – Kuehne+Nagel’s largest market worldwide. “It was an intense but highly rewarding experience. I’m thrilled to bring all that knowledge and experience back to BeLux to lead the team and take the next steps forward.”
A Look at the Industry
The logistics industry is currently facing major challenges: the war for talent, globalization versus regionalization, rising costs, and the rapid emergence of digitalization and AI. “The war for talent might be the biggest challenge,” says Simon. “We need to show young people that logistics is a dynamic, innovative, and meaningful sector. At Kuehne+Nagel, we invest in training, career development, and employee well-being. Constantly evolving AI applications help us reduce repetitive tasks and create space to focus on what really matters: creating value for customers.”
He also sees a clear trend toward regional supply chains and nearshoring: “Companies want to be less dependent on distant suppliers and gain more flexibility in their supply chains. We support them with smart routing, customs advisory, and integrated solutions that combine speed and resilience. In today’s economic climate, close, reliable partnerships are more important than ever.”
Why Transport & Logistics Matters
Transport & Logistics in Antwerp is a fixed event in Kuehne+Nagel’s calendar. “It’s the perfect opportunity to engage in dialogue with customers and business partners. We want to listen, exchange ideas, and show how we can work together to build the supply chain of tomorrow,” Simon explains.
This year’s edition is extra special. “For me personally, it’s an introduction to the Belgian market in my new role. For Kuehne+Nagel, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that, we are ready to help shape the future – with a strong focus on sustainability, digitalization, and collaboration.”
His message to visitors is clear: “The future of logistics is resilient, smart, and sustainable. We want to create that future together with our customers and future employees. Transport & Logistics is the perfect place to start those conversations.”
Kuehne+Nagel in a nutshell
Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world’s leading logistics providers, offering integrated solutions in sea, air, road, and contract logistics. The company combines a global network with strong local expertise and focuses on digitalization, sustainability, and close partnerships. Since 1955, Kuehne+Nagel has been active in Belgium, playing a key role in positioning the BeLux region as a central logistics hub in and beyond Europe.
- More than 1,400 locations worldwide
- Active in over 100 countries
- 80,000+ employees worldwide
- Expertise in sea, air, road, and contract logistics
- Strong focus on digitalization, sustainability, and customer-centric solutions
- Active in Belgium since 1955
