Swiss transportation and logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel International AG said today it has named Detlef Trefzger, a former top executive at rival Schenker AG, as its new CEO.

Trefzger, who immediately assumes the chief executive officer post, joined Kuehne + Nagel in March 2013 as head of its contract and integrated logistics unit and was given a seat on its management board. He will continue to run the unit until further notice, the company said.

At Essen, Germany-based Schenker, Trefzger ran the global contract logistics and supply chain management business unit. He also headed up Schenker's global airfreight and global ocean freight unit, and served on the company's executive board. He left Schenker in October 2012 after 13 years at the company.