Dock & Talk: “We deliver happiness”: Lufthansa Cargo CEO Ashwin Bhat on logistics and leadership
As part of the Dock & Talk – Stories from the Top series on KLU’s Hamburg HafenCity campus, Lufthansa Cargo CEO Ashwin Bhat visited KLU and spoke with KLU President Prof. Andreas Kaplan about global trade dynamics, leadership, technology and the future of logistics. During the discussion, he shared personal insights into his career and explained why he likes to describe his role as “transporting happiness.”
It was not his first time on campus. He had previously visited KLU as commencement speaker at a graduation ceremony. During his recent visit, he continued this dialogue with Prof. Kaplan, deepening their exchange on leadership, global developments and organizational agility.
Bhat began his career in 1992 at Swissair in India – without initially intending to enter aviation or logistics. Positions at Swisscargo and Swiss International Air Lines ultimately led to his appointment as CEO of Lufthansa Cargo in 2023. Today, the company employs around 4,000 people and generates approximately 3 billion euros in annual revenue. What he finds compelling about the sector: “Every day is new – logistics is about solving global challenges.”
“We transport happiness” – logistics as a driver of global supply
To illustrate the impact of logistics, Bhat often says: “At Christmas, I’m one of Santa’s helpers – we transport happiness.” Air freight, he emphasised, goes far beyond moving goods; it safeguards global supply, health and quality of life – for example through the delivery of smartphones, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors or Valentine’s Day roses.
Regarding geopolitical change, Bhat argued that globalisation is not declining but transforming. Trade and production flows are increasingly shifting – for instance from China to Southeast Asia, Mexico or North Africa. “Like water, trade finds its way.”
Technology, AI and the importance of human decision-making
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence formed another focus of the dialogue. At Lufthansa Cargo, AI-based tools support pallet planning, autonomous logistics movements and automated processing of booking requests. The aim is to reduce repetitive tasks and address labour shortages – not to replace human roles.
Looking ahead, Bhat highlighted human capabilities as essential for future leaders: decision-making, risk assessment, relationship-building and the ability to work across cultures. The capacity to learn, unlearn and relearn will be increasingly important.
Leadership, optimism and lived corporate culture
Bhat also spoke about leadership. He intentionally surrounds himself with optimistic leaders: “I know the problems from reading the news – I need people who bring solutions.” He described leadership as “inhaling frustration and exhaling excitement.”
At Lufthansa Cargo, this mindset has been translated into tangible leadership behaviours. One example is the principle “ELMO” – “Enough, let’s move on” – encouraging solution-oriented thinking. Culture, Bhat stressed, cannot be prescribed; it is created through consistent behaviour, particularly by those in leadership roles.
Sustainability as a strategic priority
Lufthansa Cargo’s sustainability strategy includes fleet modernisation, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and additional measures along the value chain such as optimised packaging and energy management at logistics facilities. Bhat emphasised the importance of balancing environmental ambition with operational and economic responsibility.
Shaping the future – practical insights for students
For the students in attendance, the discussion demonstrated that key future themes such as globalisation, digital transformation and sustainability take practical shape within logistics and supply chain management. With Dock & Talk – Stories from the Top, KLU provides a platform that brings international business leaders to campus and offers direct access to real-world strategic insights.
