Chief Technology & Data Officer (CTDO)

The organisation

Fracht Group is a privately owned international logistics provider headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 1955 by Ruedi Reisdorf, the organisation delivers end-to-end logistics solutions including air, ocean, road and rail freight, project cargo transport, 4PL services, warehousing and customs brokerage.

Fracht serves customers across industrial manufacturing, energy and renewables, mining, oil and gas, construction, automotive, pharma, chemicals, food and consumer goods.

Fracht Group employs more than 2,500 people and operates over 169 offices across 60 countries in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. The corporate structure is lean and entrepreneurial. The culture values respect, integrity, ownership and direct communication. Decisions move fast and the organisation thrives on transparency, accountability and a practical way of working. The global IT function is being built and strengthened, creating an opportunity to design a modern, scalable and secure landscape that supports automation, data-driven decision making, AI innovation and future growth.

The position

The Chief Technology & Data Officer (CTDO) is a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for shaping and executing the company’s global technology and data strategy to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and scalable growth. This role uniquely combines the responsibilities of a traditional Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with those of a Chief Data Officer (CDO), ensuring robust IT governance, enterprise data management, and operational excellence across a decentralized organization.

The CTDO will align local subsidiaries’ autonomy with a unified global technology vision, harmonizing systems, processes, and data practices across multiple regions. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in Transport Management Systems (TMS), Data Warehouse architecture (DWH), cybersecurity, AI, and automation, with a proven record of transforming logistics operations and driving competitive advantage. This role leads digital transformation initiatives, ensures data quality and regulatory compliance, and implements scalable IT infrastructure, with success measured by improved operational efficiency, strengthened governance, and reliable, high-quality information for decision-making.

The role covers six core strategic pillars: visibility, cybersecurity, data warehousing, connectivity, AI innovation, and governance. The CTDO reports to the Global IT Board, consisting of three senior business leaders. The Global IT Board reports directly to the Group CEO 

Tasks & responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive technology roadmap aligned with the company’s business strategy and growth objectives.
• Partner with executive leadership to leverage technology as a differentiator in customer service, operational excellence, and profitability.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives across a decentralized organization, harmonizing diverse systems and practices while respecting regional autonomy.
• Define and implement enterprise data strategy, including master data management, harmonization across regions, and regulatory compliance. (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Align technology programs with business process excellence to ensure measurable operational improvements.

Technology Management & Innovation

• Oversee design, implementation, and optimization of (TMS) to streamline freight, warehousing, and supply chain operations.
• Lead DWH architecture strategy, ensuring efficient data integration, governance, and advanced analytics for predictive decision-making.
• Microsoft Azure is the core enterprise data platform; experience with Azure is strongly preferred.
• Drive AI and automation adoption across processes such as quoting, routing, scheduling, and documentation handling.
• Implement AI governance and a responsible innovation framework.
• Deliver technology-enabled customer solutions, including external platforms, portals, and APIs that strengthen client experience and long-term relationships.
• Ensure cybersecurity across global operations, ensuring compliance with NIST, ISO 27001, and regional regulatory standards.
• Develop a NIST- or CIS-based cybersecurity maturity roadmap and drive a security-first culture.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies (IoT, blockchain, digital twins, robotic process automation) that add value to logistics operations.
• Ensure system integration across countries and platforms is executed using MuleSoft (or comparable middleware) to avoid fragmented or one-off solutions.

Operational Excellence

• Establish global technology governance processes, including policies, standards, and accountability structures.
• Define global data standards, ownership, and a centralized Master Data Management (MDM) function.
• Ensure uptime, resilience, and scalability of enterprise technology platforms.
  Foster cross-functional collaboration between IT, operations, sales, and compliance teams to align technology with business needs.
• Establish a constructive collaboration and communication model with local IT teams and outsourced development partners to ensure successful global execution.
• Implement best practices for vendor management, system integration, and third-party technology solutions.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and mentor a high-performing technology team with expertise across IT, data, cybersecurity, and automation.
• Create a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning within the technology organization.
• Provide guidance and executive-level reporting on technology initiatives, risks, and opportunities.
• Proactively escalate risks and delays to leadership to avoid surprises and maintain transparency.

Candidate profile

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 15 years of progressive IT leadership, including at least 7 years in senior leadership roles within logistics, freight forwarding or supply chain
• Proven expertise in Transportation Management Systems implementation and optimisation
• Proven expertise in Data Warehouse architecture and enterprise data governance
• Proven expertise in cybersecurity frameworks including NIST, ISO 27001 and GDPR or CCPA compliance
• Proven expertise in AI and automation technologies including machine learning, RPA and workflow automation
• Strong preference for Microsoft Azure experience
• Strong record of leading large scale digital transformation with measurable ROI
• Demonstrated ability to partner with business units, influence stakeholders and drive technology adoption
• Strong vendor negotiation and contract management skills
• Strong communication, leadership and change management capability

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic vision with the ability to define and execute a forward looking technology roadmap
• Innovation mindset that uses emerging technologies to deliver business value
• Operational discipline ensuring secure, resilient and cost efficient systems
• Strong leadership that develops teams and fosters cross functional collaboration
• Business acumen with deep understanding of logistics industry dynamics and translation into technology solutions

Interested?

You are invited to apply for this position by following the link below.

For more information, contact Beatrice Bonioli at +31 6 30616717.