Special anniversaries in Downunder
Brian de Leeuw and Walter Cerchiara both have long careers at a. hartrodt.
2025 starts with two special anniversaries for a. hartrodt Australia: Walter Cerchiara (58), Key Account Manager in Melbourne, has been part of the successful team in Down Under for four decades. Brian de Leeuw (50), Managing Director of the national company, has been loyal to the freight forwarder for a quarter of a century. "My deep attachment stems from the sense of community and camaraderie," he emphasizes. Walter Cerchiara finds it "very important that the company is family-owned and that I receive honest feedback". He started straight after high school and was given "numerous career opportunities" over the decades.
Walter Cerchiara: Met his wife within the same office
Walter Cerchiara cites his promotion to Key Account Manager in 2022 as a personal highlight. When he started in the customs clearance department at a. hartrodt Australia in 1985, he was able to witness how physical contact with local authorities such as Australian Customs and the Quarantine was completely abolished: "Everything is now performed electronically." He also met his wife within the same office 14 years ago.
Brian de Leeuw: From Melbourne via Perth to Brisbane
Brian de Leeuw started in sales at a. hartrodt Australia in Melbourne – for the New Zealander "one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia with the best coffee". His professional journey took him via Fremantle (Perth), where his son was born, to Brisbane. Having constantly moved around the country and frequently travelled to different offices, Brian de Leeuw feels that "each city boasts its own unique positive style and culture". As the most important technical innovations in his career, he cites "the speed and type of communication along with the increased ability of our operating systems to integrate business units".
In Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, a. hartrodt employs 180 people. The acquisition of OTS Australia and OTS Plus Australia in 2021 marks an important milestone. The freight forwarder operates 21,000 square meters of warehouse space on the east coast.