Regional Airfreight Director, Southeast Asia

Regional Airfreight Director, Southeast Asia

Strategic Procurement & Carrier Management

• Develop and implement area-level air freight procurement strategies, including core carrier planning.
• Lead rate and contract negotiations with both new and existing airlines to secure competitive pricing and preferential tariffs.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with carriers to ensure alignment and access to market-leading rates.
• Conduct regular QBRs/MBRs with key airline partners to review performance and strengthen strategic collaboration.

Pricing Operations & System Management

• Oversee the integration and maintenance of client rates and local charges within the pricing system.
• Ensure pricing readiness by maintaining an accurate, up-to-date, and competitive rate library to support timely quoting.
• Set cost targets per carrier and route, ensuring optimal allocation and capacity utilisation.

Performance & Commercial Support

• Drive increased win ratios on RFQs through strategic pricing and carrier alignment.
• Monitor and manage core carrier adherence and BSA performance across the area.
• Collaborate with gateway teams and trade lane managers to identify consolidation and cost-efficiency opportunities.
• Support sales and commercial teams through participation in client visits, QBRs, and delivery of product insights and market intelligence, to drive new air freight business growth

Leadership & Integration

• Lead and develop the area pricing team, fostering a culture of performance, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Act as a key stakeholder in integrating product, operations, and commercial functions through deep pricing expertise.
• Deliver impactful product support materials, including presentations, market updates, and sales collateral.
• Champion process efficiency, system accuracy, and standardisation across pricing operations in the region.
• Serve as the escalation point for all the core carriers' issues across the Asia Pacific region.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex topics for senior audiences.
• Proven initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to achieve results through collaboration in a matrixed, multi-country environment.
• Extensive expertise in contracting, negotiation, budgeting, and change management, with a track record of leading cross-functional programs.
• Advanced conceptual and analytical skills, along with a strong understanding of yield management, pricing strategies, and data dashboards.
• Customer-focused with experience in designing solutions for strategic bids; adept at managing relationships with carriers and partners.
• Strategic planning mindset, resilient under pressure, and skilled at navigating ambiguity.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, International Business, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent is advantageous.
• 12–15+ years of experience in air freight or air cargo logistics (forwarder and/or airline), including over 7 years in leadership roles; regional experience in Southeast Asia is required.
• Proven track record of delivering P&L growth, leading airline procurement, and scaling gateway or product solutions across multiple countries.