Double anniversary: Two 40-year careers at a. hartrodt

Latin America has had a decisive influence on the careers of two executives at a. hartrodt, who together have 80 years of professional experience. In 1986, Jan van Tienhoven joined his father, Joop van Tienhoven, as a co-owner of a. hartrodt. On August 1, 1986, Joop van Tienhoven brought Claus Wendland across the Atlantic from Hamburg, Claus Wendland had just finished his apprenticeship as a freight forwarder. As Managing Partner, Jan van Tienhoven is proud on this anniversary “to have been able to help shape the expansion of our business in South America and North America.” Claus Wendland, now Regional Director for Latin America, greatly appreciates his “full and almost unquestioning trust.”

Jan van Tienhoven: From Australia to Argentina

Jan van Tienhoven initially worked for the family business in Australia until the late 1980s, before moving to Buenos Aires in 1990 as Managing Director of a. hartrodt Argentina. In Latin America, he learned a lesson for life: “Flexibility, composure, and building trust with people are at least as important as perfect logistics.” He has been Managing Partner at the Hamburg-based holding company since 1995.

Claus Wendland: From Peru to Chile via Germany

Claus Wendland has known Latin America since childhood. After finishing school in Peru, he studied business administration in Germany in addition to his apprenticeship. For many years, he headed a. hartrodt Chile in Santiago and recalls projects such as the import of entire coal and copper mines. Equally unforgettable are animal shipments for the Chilean zoo, such as a baby elephant by air freight or giraffes in open-top containers, as well as alpacas and Peruvian Paso horses for export. “Spontaneity and improvisation often get you further,” he says. In Latin America, “it’s absolutely okay that things don’t always go according to plan,” Jan van Tienhoven agrees.

A long career shows how progressive the region is. According to Claus Wendland, it has surpassed countries in the Global North “in electronic invoicing and data exchange.” Both managers want to continue to play an active role in shaping the future of a. hartrodt.