UPS names Alan Gershenhorn chief commercial officer as firm's executive suite continues to churn

The executive personnel changes are coming fast and furious at the nation's largest transportation company.

UPS Inc., fresh from naming David L. Abney, its chief operating officer, as its next CEO, said today that Alan Gershenhorn has been named executive vice president and the company's first chief commercial officer, effective immediately. Gershenhorn, 55, will lead the "development and implementation of broad strategic growth and innovation initiatives" across the enterprise, Atlanta-based UPS said in a statement. These initiatives include developing new markets, products, and solutions and overseeing what UPS called "stronger customer engagement" across its business lines.

Gershenhorn, who has spent 35 years at UPS, had been its chief sales, marketing, and strategy officer.

In addition, Kate Gutmann, president of worldwide sales, was named to the new position of worldwide sales and solutions, while Mitch Nichols, president of UPS Airlines, the company's airline division, was promoted to the new post of senior vice president of transportation and engineering. Gutmann, 45, will be responsible for leading UPS's global sales solutions and customer engagement strategy. Nichols, 58, will continue to be responsible for UPS Airlines, and head UPS' transportation, engineering and sustainability functions.

Brendan Canavan, 53, currently president of UPS Asia Pacific, will replace Nichols as president of UPS Airlines, UPS said. Gutmann, Nichols and Canavan have already assumed their new roles, UPS said.

Gutmann and Nichols will join Gershenhorn on UPS' 11-person management committee, which sets the strategic direction for the $55-billion-a-year colossus.

Last Friday, UPS named Abney, 58, the 11th CEO in its 107-year history. Davis, 62, will stay on in the new post of nonexecutive chairman. Those changes will take effect Sept. 1.