CEO of Global DHL Group Visits Israel

Tobias Meyer's visit to Israel was brief in time, but deep in significance. Two days of concentrated activity, ranging from international economic discussions to personal and moving meetings, demonstrated the human and managerial depth that characterizes global leadership at this time.

The visit took place as part of a broad German delegation, led by the German Minister of Economy, in collaboration with the Israeli ambassador to Germany and the participation of dozens of senior figures from the business world, government offices, and trade entities, including Tobias Meyer, Chairman of the global DHL Group. The delegation aimed to promote economic and commercial cooperation and deepen business relations between Germany and Israel, during a period of strategic significance for both sides.

The first day was entirely dedicated to the delegation's activities, focusing on promoting bilateral trade relations between the countries. As part of this, Efrat Rennan, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, and Yonatan Ivgi, CEO of DHL Express Israel, participated in a roundtable discussion on developing economic cooperation and removing barriers to commercial activity between the countries. Israeli companies presented a variety of industries in Israel, such as transportation, pharma, AI, aviation, and technology, to the German delegation. Tobias Meyer's dominant role stood out during the discussion, as he presented a series of key conclusions and actively participated in shaping the direction of thought and discussion.

The second day of the visit took on a different, more intimate and moving character. Rennan and Ivgi met with Tobias Meyer for a comprehensive update on the group's activities in Israel. The meeting covered a wide range of topics and provided an opportunity for an open and in-depth conversation about the challenges, needs, and daily operations of DHL in Israel.

One of the significant and moving moments of the visit occurred later in the day, during the lighting of the fourth Hanukkah candle at the DHL Express headquarters in Israel. About 250 employees participated in the short but emotionally heavy event. In his speech to the employees, Tobias Meyer referred to the support Israel received during the war, support that he said would continue in the future. His words, as well as his presence in Israel and the company, for the third time in the last two years, touched the hearts of the employees and left a deep impression.

The visit concluded with a joint meeting of the DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Express management in Israel, which marked the end of the visit days and allowed a joint summary of the experiences, insights, and connections that were formed during them.

According to Yonatan Ivgi, CEO of DHL Express Israel, this was an extraordinary opportunity: 'I am grateful for the opportunity to host the group's CEO in Israel. This visit allowed us not only to showcase our activities, but also to pause for a moment, look back on a challenging period, and personally thank for the light that the international network brought us in very dark days. The fact that the visit took place during Hanukkah, a holiday of light and hope, gave it an additional symbolic dimension. For DHL's management in Israel and for the employees, it was a rare opportunity for a direct, human, and non-intermediary connection with the group's leadership, and for strengthening the feeling that we are not alone. A clear message was sent from this visit. Commitment is not only measured in business decisions, but also in presence, listening, and the ability to stand by people and organizations in the most complex moments. From this, we send light and hope for the coming year, and hope for continued joint, stable, and meaningful action also in 2026.'