New Regional Managing Director for Oceania
Brian de Leeuw aims to continue Dirk Haarhaus' success through strategic approach.
Since July 1, 2025, Brian de Leeuw has been Regional Managing Director Oceania at a. hartrodt, overseeing 168 employees in five Australian and two New Zealand offices. The 51-year-old, who holds a Master's degree in Marketing and Logistics, has been working for the family-owned company for more than a quarter of a century, most recently as Managing Director of a. hartrodt Australia in Brisbane. He takes over the position from Dirk Haarhaus, who has retired after 35 years with the company. Given the large shoes his predecessor has left to fill, Brian de Leeuw sees himself as a "bridge builder between proven success and future growth".
Transition to more warehousing/3PL services
Dirk Haarhaus left his native Germany in 1995 to work in Singapore and later in Australia. The certified transportation specialist from Dortmund was Regional Managing Director Oceania at a. hartrodt for over 16 years. He is particularly proud of "the expansion of operations in Australia/New Zealand and transition to more warehousing/3PL". Most recently, he opened a. hartrodt's largest warehouse in Melbourne.
Combining global best practices with local experience
During his first 100 days in his new position, Brian de Leeuw intends to focus on "listening deeply, understanding the nuances of our regional operations, and identifying areas where we can transition to a more strategic approach in our day-to-day business". His goal is to build a "proactive, aligned, and outcome-driven corporate culture". The teams should "act quickly when needed". For sustainable business development, the experienced manager wants to combine "global best practices with local experience". "Agility, innovation, and a deep commitment to local relevance" should strengthen customer focus.
Dirk Haarhaus is looking forward to retiring with his family in his adopted home. For his successor, he has this advice: "Always keep the bigger picture in mind and keep things simple. Look after your customers by working for them as a team."