Otto Group logistics network in Upper Franconia taking shape

As part of the Otto Group's logistics network, the fulfilment activities of the Baur Group in Burgkunstadt and Hermes Fulfilment, Hamburg, continue to grow together.

A new logistics centre employing some 1,000 workers is being built in Altenkunstadt following a substantial investment of 150 million euros, to process merchandise for the fashion and technology company About You. This will not only secure jobs in the long term but will also and expand and develop this long-established location.

At the start of the 2022/23 financial year on 1 March, experienced logistics expert Andreas du Plessis, 49, managing director of the Baur subsidiary BFS, will be appointed managing director of the new joint venture between Hermes Fulfilment (HF) and the BAUR Group, then to be named Baur Hermes Fulfilment GmbH & KG.

Andreas du Plessis joined the Otto Group in 2016 and was a member of the Management Board with responsibility for marketing and sales at Hermes Fulfilment until 2018. In August 2018, he took over the management of the Baur subsidiary, BFS Baur Fulfillment Solutions GmbH, based in Burgkunstadt, which he will continue to lead.

“I am very delighted with the appointment of Andreas du Plessis. Not only are we gaining an experienced and accomplished manager with extensive expertise in e-commerce and the logistics business, but also a leader who is equally at home in the Baur and Hermes worlds. I wish him every success and all the best in his new role,” says Kevin Kufs, CEO of Hermes Fulfilment GmbH. A managing director with responsibility for operations is currently being sought for the two-man management team of the future Baur Hermes Fulfilment GmbH & Co. KG.

The Advisory Board of the new company in Altenkunstadt will include representatives of both companies: HF managing directors Eva Witte and Kevin Kufs as well as Hans-Christian Müller, managing director for planning and commercial divisions of the Baur Group.

In addition, Hermes Fulfilment is expanding and has established an IT company, appointing Olaf Röhr as the Group's managing director and chief information officer (CIO), also effective 1 March 2022. The 54-year-old will thus be responsible for implementing and planning IT projects across HF as a whole and will manage the entire IT world of the Group. He will also be serving on the HF's expanded Management Board.

Olaf Röhr is a proven IT and logistics expert with many years of national and international experience. Since 2015, as managing director of the Baur Group, he was responsible for logistics, information management, construction & technology, BAUR studios and print productions. He also chairs the Advisory Board of the BFS Baur Fulfillment Solutions subsidiary and coordinates the activities of logistics service provider Zweite Hermes TranstoreService (2. HTS).

His responsibilities will be divided among the other management remits. CEO Stephan P. Elsner will be taking on responsibility for IT, the photo studios, production & support and CR Strategy in addition to his current functions. Key management and service functions will be pooled in Hans-Christian Müller's future management remit. He will also assume responsibility for logistics activities as well as for construction & engineering and safety at work.

Stephan Elsner, CEO of the Baur Group: “While I very much regret that Olaf Röhr is leaving us, at the same time I am pleased that he has taken on such a responsible position within the Otto Group, from which the Baur Group will also benefit. Andreas du Plessis personifies the best possible dovetailing of HF and BFS and we will be able to leverage considerable synergies as planned. I am looking forward to continuing a fruitful collaboration with both of them for the benefit of both Group companies.”

Kay Schiebur, Member of the Executive Board, Services Otto Group: “With Andreas du Plessis and Olaf Röhr, we have been able to gain two proven experts from within our own ranks to implement the ambitious goals of our logistics network. Both are successful managers and have demonstrated that they can reliably achieve demanding goals in their various functions. I wish them every success in all their future challenges and thank of the Executive Board of the Baur Group for shouldering additional responsibilities within this alliance.”