Stig Picture

Stig Kyster-Hansen

Managing Director at Hector Rail GmbH

Tangible results, change management, new thinking and new solutions are the main elements in a career spanning 33 years spent mostly within the complex rail transport sector. Specialities: Substantial practical management experience in transformation- and change management as well as innovative development - implementation and build-up of new rail transport and logistics organisations, services, products and concepts within the European railway business.

Work Experience

Managing Director

Hector Rail GmbH

Jan 2018 to Present

  • Management of an independent rail transportation company owned by EQT (a private equity fund) providing modern rail solutions with the highest quality and performance in Germany and central Europe
  • With a strong financial backbone Hector Rail is creating state-of-the-art efficient rail solutions leading to value for customers, which can be industrial shippers, forwarders, intermodal operators and traditional railway companies

    • Senior Executive

    New Thinking Business Development, Germany

    Jan 2017 to Dec 2017

    Own company counselling and facilitating of innovative business development, mainly within the European transport market and with focus on:

    Interim Management within:

  • Transportation, mobility, logistics and rail industry
  • Short- and middle term restructuring process
  • Temporary absence e.g. longterm illness
  • Concept development, start-up and implementation

    • Business Consultancy within:

  • Strategy development and market positioning
  • Intermodal traffic, sustainable transport and mobility
  • Practical market input, research and development assignments
  • Traffic planning, supply chain management and logistics
  • Business process reengineering and efficiency

    • Managing Director

    Captrain Deutschland CargoWest GmbH, Germany

    Jan 2016 to Dec 2016

  • In multiple roles: Managing Director, Captrain Denmark ApS, Captrain Sweden AB, Captrain Netherlands BV
  • Management of a rail transportation company owned by SNCF providing custom-made concepts, safe and reliable traction through logistics expertise including managing in-plant and connecting railways
  • Specialists in cross-border transport developing and delivering international services between Germany and Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium and France
  • Close collaboration with the European affiliates of SNCF and other international partners

    • Senior Vice President Operations

    DB Schenker Rail AG, Germany

    Jun 2012 to Dec 2015

  • Head of European Operations Management and in a dual role, Head of German Operations since August 2013
  • Developing and leading an organisation for active operational steering of the DBSR European rail network with main focus on balancing quality and efficiency through implementation of uniform operations processes and IT systems
  • Responsibility for steering 5,000 trains per day through 20 production centres across Europe with upwards of 1,500 operational employees
  • Leading through trust and integrity with a transformational Scandinavian leadership style to develop and innovate the organisation cross countries and cultures

    • Managing Director

    DB Schenker Rail Scandinavia A/S, Denmark

    Feb 2008 to May 2012

  • Management of a rail transportation company (joint venture of DB Schenker Rail, Germany and Greencargo, Sweden) with a yearly turnover close to 100 million Euro
  • Efficient, competitive and high quality produced rail operation in the cross border corridor Scandinavia - Germany
  • Strong focus on change management gearing the organisation to an enlarged scope of activities, almost doubling the productivity and significantly improving quality
  • Overhead costs reduced by 50%; management structure streamlined; substantial funding for turn-around of combi-terminals

    • Director Operations & Production

    ERS Railways BV, The Netherlands

    Apr 2002 to Jan 2008

  • In dual role: Managing Director, ERS Railways GmbH, Germany (as from January 2006)
  • Management of an intermodal railway operation (company privately owned by A.P. Møller - Maersk) with a yearly cost budget of more than 100 million Euro and a yearly turnover of 4 billion ton/km
  • Establishment of a state-of-the-art rail operation of intermodal trains between the Port of Rotterdam and terminals in Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland and Belgium
  • International relations spanning seven countries; operation and own production on budget at lowest possible cost and highest possible quality; development and implementation of new products; completion of licenses and safety certification with authorities; contract negotiations with infrastructure managers, leasing companies, suppliers and subcontractors

    • Managing Director & Senior Consultant

    New Thinking Business Development ApS, Denmark

    Feb 1996 to Mar 2002

    Own company counselling and facilitating of innovative business development, mainly within the European rail transport market.

    Business process development, supply chain management, traffic planning and logistics, concept development and implementation, market analysis and assessments, surveys and market surveillance, research and development.

    Relevant key assignments:

  • Business Plan for and establishment of ERS Railways and IKEA Rail
  • Establishment of Sales and Capacity Management function, Banedanmark (Danish infrastructure manager)
  • Restructuring of intermodal traffic in Russia for Maersk Line

    • Head of Department & Product Management

    Intercontainer, Switzerland

    Sep 1988 to Sep 1995

    A company owned by 24 state-owned railways specialised in developing and marked implementation of intermodal cross-border rail traffic in Europe.

  • Responsible for and development of North-South corridor Scandinavia-Germany-Italy. Documented average annual growth rate of 30%
  • Detailed activity goals and marketing strategies; daily management of production- and sales department with 10 different nationalities; negotiations with the European Railways; sales negotiations with European Key accounts; active leadership of agents and partners in Europe; implementation of new organisational systems and administrative processes
  • Product development of intermodal transports with co-ordination of production and sales; new product strategies and their commercialisation; new administrative systems and organisational routines

    • Shipping- and Transportation Management Trainee

    EAC Transport, Denmark

    Aug 1982 to Aug 1988

    Various functions e.g.:

  • Customer service
  • Transport documentation
  • Forwarding tasks
  • Ship-shore coordinator

    • Education

    Copenhagen Business School, 1985 to 1988

    Further studies in Business Administration and International Business

    Copenhagen Business School, 1983 to 1985

    Graduate Certificate in Business Administration