Benoit de la Tour appointed President, Navis and head of software business in Kalmar

Benoit de la Tour has been appointed President, Navis and the head of software business in Kalmar as of 1 February 2016. Based in Oakland, California, he will report to Chairman of the Navis Board Olli Isotalo and be part of Kalmar Management.

Benoit brings with him more than 20 years of experience in developing global software business and deep knowledge of supply chain software applications and related services. Most recently, he served as Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa for Ciena, a global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software and services. Prior to that, he worked for Microsoft Corporation as Vice President, EMEA and Latin America, tasked with growing and developing Microsoft's Enterprise Business Applications Division (ERP, CRM). He has also held different senior management positions for Infor Global Solutions, world's third largest Enterprise Application Software company, and Information Builders Inc., a worldwide Business Intelligence software company.

"We are thrilled to have Benoit on board and to give our employees, partners and customers the opportunity to benefit from all the talent, knowledge and experience he's bringing in his leadership roles at Navis and Kalmar. 'Kalmar's strategic target is to grow in software business and Benoit will play an essential role in our strategy implementation," says Olli Isotalo, President, Kalmar.

"Under Benoit's leadership, we will continue to invest in Navis to build on the successes already made in developing our existing Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) business. At the same time we will expand to new areas to create more value for our existing and new customers. XVELA, a cloud-based vessel stowage collaboration platform for ocean carriers and terminal operators, is a good example of this. I am excited about the growth opportunities ahead of us, and Benoit's valuable experience will help us take the next steps on this strategic journey," he continued.

"I am honoured to lead Navis and expand the software business at Kalmar. Navis has a strong position of leadership in Terminal Operating Systems, and I am looking forward to leveraging this industry expertise and knowledge more broadly into new areas across the container supply chain, delivering more value to our existing and new customers," says Benoit de la Tour.