RENE WINCKLERDirector Americas, Latin America business
Rene Winckler is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in freight forwarding, supply chain management, and project logistics. Based in Costa Rica and fluent in German, Spanish, and English, Rene has led major logistics operations across Latin America, Europe, and Asia — helping multinational clients achieve cost-effective, reliable, and scalable transport solutions.
He has successfully established and managed branch offices, designed multimodal transport solutions, and led complex projects including heavy-lift, oversized cargo movements, and construction logistics for wind farms, skyscrapers, and infrastructure projects. Rene combines his technical expertise with hands-on leadership, driving operational excellence through LEAN and Kaizen methodologies.
Areas of Expertise
- Master’s in Logistics and brings extensive experience in Kaizen, Tankers, CPP (Clean Petroleum Products), and DPP (Dirty Petroleum Products).
- He has also worked across a range of other commodities, including chicken feet, pork stomach, sugar, oil products, and gold.
- With strong expertise in compliance and a deep understanding of Latin American markets, Rene combines operational excellence with international trade know-how to deliver practical, value-driven solutions.
- Global Supply Chain Design & Execution – End-to-end logistics network optimization across multiple regions.
- Freight Forwarding (Air & Ocean) – Management of complex import/export operations including CFS, CY, bonded cargo, and charter shipments.
- Project & Heavy-Lift Logistics – Development of transport solutions for oversized equipment, wind farms, generators, and construction sites.
- Branch Setup & Expansion – Established and scaled operations in Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Indonesia.
- Budget & P&L Management – Full responsibility for financial performance, delivering cost-efficient results.
- Regulatory Compliance – Licensing, permits, and customs compliance across Latin America.
- LEAN & Kaizen Management – Process improvement, change management, and workforce training.
- Business Development – Market research, partner selection, and new business acquisition.
- Client & Supplier Relations – Strategic relationship management and contract negotiation.
- Multilingual Leadership – Fluent in German, Spanish, and English; advanced Portuguese and basic French.
- Public Speaking & Training – Speaker on supply chain topics; mentor and trainer for logistics apprentices and armed forces officers.
Education & Professional Development
- Master’s Degree (Management Methods) – Universidad Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia
- Focus on LEAN and Kaizen applications in foreign trade and service industries.
- Diploma in Logistics, Warehousing & Supply Chain – Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración y Gerencia (IESA), Caracas, Venezuela
- BA Equivalent in Commerce – Handelsschule am Holstenwall, Hamburg, Germany (Graduated with Honours)
- Professional Freight Forwarding Education – Kuehne & Nagel, Hamburg, Germany
- Rotations in Project Forwarding, Export Siemens, Export Far East, and Supply Chain divisions.
- Continuous professional development in International Trade, Risk Management, and Supply Chain Digitalization.
Qualifications
- Master’s Degree (Management Methods) – Universidad Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia
Focus: LEAN & Kaizen applications in trade and service industries - Diploma in Logistics, Warehousing & Supply Chain – IESA, Caracas, Venezuela
- BA Equivalent in Commerce – Handelsschule am Holstenwall, Hamburg, Germany (with Honours)
- Professional Freight Forwarding Education – Kuehne & Nagel, Hamburg, Germany