For Forwarders, Cargo Owners & Investors

Ocean Freight Counsel.

For ocean freight decisions that shape margin, scalability and execution.

I have led ocean freight businesses across four decades and four fundamentally different environments - now I bring that perspective to the decisions that matter.

Three decades acrossFortoDB SchenkerJCL LogisticsFr. Meyer's SohnPanalpina
Thomas Eisenblätter

Experience From Inside the P&L

Ocean freight leadership across global product, regional P&L, family-owned expansion, entrepreneurial build-up and digital forwarding.

2022 – 2026
EVP Global Sea Freight
Forto

Global P&L responsibility for Sea Freight, including Trade Management and Operations. Member of the Executive Leadership Team.

2017 – 2022
EVP Ocean Freight Europe
DB Schenker

P&L responsibility for the European Ocean Freight organization. Member of the Regional Executive Team.

2015 – 2017
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
JCL Logistics (Air & Ocean)

Built and scaled an international forwarding business.

2007 – 2015
COO & Member of the Management Board
Fr. Meyer's Sohn

Commercial and operational leadership for the international expansion and the creation of a new global business unit.

1993 – 2006
Managing Director Global Ocean Freight
Panalpina

Built and led global Trade Management and Ocean Freight Management.

Advisory Areas & Business Solutions

Where I Create Value

Focused support where ocean freight decisions shape commercial performance, operating model and enterprise value.

01

Forwarders & Logistics Platforms

Improving ocean freight performance where cost pressure, fragmented data and organizational complexity challenge margin, scalability and execution.

  • Commercial performance & P&L transparency
  • Trade & pricing steering
  • Carrier management & procurement architecture
  • Operating model, productivity & scalability
  • Change management & implementation traction
02

Cargo Owners & Shippers

Independent support where ocean freight buying, contracts and supplier performance need stronger market reality and governance.

  • Buying model review
  • Benchmarking & market reality checks
  • Surcharge & quality governance
  • Provider performance assessment
  • Access to procurement expertise & market intelligence
03

Investors & Private Equity

Reality check on logistics assets and forwarding platforms when the thesis depends on ocean freight economics not fully visible in the numbers.

  • P&L & gross profit validation
  • Carrier portfolio & margin quality
  • Scalability, productivity & systems assessment
  • Procurement, pricing & trade setup review
  • Synergy, culture & execution risk
Independent Perspective

Why It’s Different

Independent advice grounded in ocean freight P&L responsibility, market mechanics and execution reality.

Operator's Perspective

Advice shaped by direct responsibility for ocean freight P&L, pricing, trade management, operations and organizational change - no academic theories, only hard practitioner knowledge.

Unconflicted Counsel

No carrier ties, no platform agenda, no hidden commissions - independent advice aligned solely with the client's interests.

Execution Reality

Recommendations tested against organization, incentives, systems, culture, carrier behavior and customer impact.

30+Years in Ocean Freight Leadership
5Executive roles
4Business Environments
Typical Engagements

Leaders and investors with capital and reputation on the line.

Freight ForwardersGlobal ShippersImportersExportersInvestorsPrivate EquityInfrastructure FundsBoards
Starting Points

When a Conversation Makes Sense

A focused discussion to test assumptions and clarify what is real, possible and worth doing.

For Forwarders01

When margin, service and execution need sharper commercial and operational steering.

  • Do you have real-time visibility over booking results and commercial performance - or are surprises the norm?
  • Are pricing, contracts and operations working from the same commercial logic?
  • Can operations scale without cost spiraling - or does growth eat the margin?
For Cargo Owners02

When ocean freight buying needs more than price - and more than a tender - it needs market reality.

  • Does the buying model fit the company's actual needs and scale?
  • Are price increases and surcharges properly challenged?
  • Is provider performance transparent across cost, capacity and quality?
For Investors03

When the investment case depends on ocean freight economics not fully visible in the numbers.

  • What does the gross profit composition really tell us?
  • Are growth and scalability assumptions executable?
  • What is the P&L not telling you?

“Start with the decision, the assumptions and the economics. Everything else follows.”

Contact

Start a conversation.

A focused, confidential discussion about your situation and whether independent ocean freight counsel is the right next step.

thomas@ice-ocean.com
Hamburg · Advising globally