Job Sonke has won the title Logistic Manager the Year. During the fourteenth edition of the election, the Manager European Distribution Center of Hollister left contenders Erik van Wunnik and Gerhard Kolk behind. The award for Young Logistics Talent went to Nick Vreeswijk.
Sonke works as logistics manager in the European distribution centre of Hollister Inc, US medical device manufacturer. In 2007, he was tasked with centralising Hollister's European distribution operations in West Brabant. The ambitious move to a larger location followed in 2016, and within a year all employees, equipment and products moved to new 30,000-square-metre premises in Oud Gastel.
"Job is a logistics manager, but actually much more than that," said jury chairman Sander de Leeuw. "He set up a whole new distribution centre and a few years later moved the whole operation. The fact that all the staff went with him to the new location says enough about Job's attention to the human factor."
Nick Vreeswijk winner JLT
Nick Vreeswijk, operational director at Fietskoeriers.nl, was voted Young Logistics Talent. He received the award from former winner Tijs van Driel (Red je Pakketje).
In his role, Vreeswijk turned Fietskoeriers.nl into a nationwide platform, cycling with over 600 bicycle couriers is 33 cities. De Leeuw: "At a fairly young age, Nick grew a company into the large organisation it is today. That requires a much broader profile than just organising the logistics itself. Nick has been able to connect people. He has also added a human aspect to sustainability. This company pays attention to people with a distance to the labour market."
Vreeswijk left behind Marijn Slabbekoorn (DHL Express) and Joris Teurlings (CEVA Logistics).
