Transportation and logistics provider DHL said today that Mike Parra has been named CEO of its U.S. express organization, effective immediately. Parra, who had been senior vice president of network operations for DHL Express Americas, succeeds Ian D. Clough, who left the company to pursue other interests in the United Kingdom.

Parra started with DHL Express in 1997 as a service center manager in South Florida. In 2009, he was named general manager and senior vice president in charge of all sales and operations functions in the western United States and Guam. He was named to his most recent position in 2011.

Prior to DHL, Parra spent 10 years at express carrier TNT Express Worldwide in various management roles.

Clough ran the U.S. division since 2009 and managed it following its withdrawal from domestic services on January 30 of that year. DHL is a unit of German logistics and postal giant Deutsche Post World Net. Its U.S. express business is based in Plantation, Fla.