OREANDA-NEWS.   UPS (NYSE: UPS) announced today that it has named Brendan Canavan, a 33-year UPS veteran, the new president of UPS Airlines. Canavan, 53, replaces Mitch Nichols, who was promoted to senior vice president of transportation and engineering and named as a member of the company's Management Committee on June 12, 2014.
Canavan returns to Louisville, having lived there from 2004-2007 when he managed Worldport, UPS's cutting-edge global air hub and one of the most technologically advanced package sorting facilities in the world. In addition, he oversaw the successful operational integration of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding and the opening of UPS's dedicated air freight facility.
Most recently, Canavan served as president of UPS Asia Pacific for the past two years. Based in Singapore, Canavan was responsible for all UPS operations in the region and for driving the introduction of new services that support the company's intra-Asia and intercontinental business growth objectives.
Before leading UPS Asia Pacific, Canavan served as president of UPS's North-East District in Europe, based in Brussels, from 2007-2012. During his time in Europe, Canavan's leadership played a critical role in the successful transition following UPS's acquisition of Stolica, a leading parcel and express delivery service in Poland, and a realignment of UPS's European operations that brought together 27 countries including Italy, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic and Russia.
"Brendan's proven track record in a range of key operational functions makes him ideally suited to lead the UPS Airlines, which plays a critical role in our operations as well as growth strategy," said Scott Davis, UPS chairman and CEO. "His knowledge, strategic insight and experience both globally and in Louisville, will be of value in leading one of our most important locations."
A native of Philadelphia, Canavan began his UPS career in 1981 as a part-time package loader while attending Villanova University where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. He was promoted into management following graduation and served in various operational positions before being promoted to package division manager in 1989 in Lawnside, N.J. Prior to 1998, Canavan worked in UPS's Corporate Marketing function where he played a pivotal role in the development of new products in UPS's U.S. and Canada service portfolios. Between 1998 and 2003, he was promoted several times, first to operations manager in Northern Illinois and then to Upstate New York District Manager in 2000. In 2003, he assumed the position of Metro Chicago District Manager.
Canavan holds a bachelor's degree in economics and accounting from Villanova University. In 2011, he graduated from the London Business School Executive Leadership Program, where he studied Advanced Management.