Kuehne suggested that Deutsche Bahn’s new chief executive, Rüdiger Grube – who replaced the disgraced former chief Helmut Mehdorn – should return DB’s focus to its core rail roots, after the group’s diversification into the wider supply chain business with the acquisition of forwarders Schenker and Bax Global. But he also made clear that he would not be interested in buying the DB Schenker’s air and sea forwarding operations.
Kuehne also spoke with some optimism of a recovery from the economic crisis, saying K+N’s sea freight business had experienced a slight revival in recent weeks, but he cautioned there were no guarantees it would continue.