Professor Mike Wilson

Overview

Mike Wilson is CEO for Latin America Contract Logistics; Manufacturing Services and Inventory Management Solutions for DSV, the world’s largest Third Party Logistics (3PL) provider, with over 150,000 people and revenues in excess of $50bn.

Prior to DSV, Mike was Global Head of Logistics and Manufacturing for Panalpina, a Swiss based Global 3PL provider with over 14,500 employees across more than 70 countries. Mike stayed with DSV after their acquisition of Panalpina in 2019.

Mike has worked closely with Cardiff University since 2012 and he was the inspiration behind The Panalpina Research Centre (PARC), which developed several award-winning, original research programs across a broad spectrum of supply chain and manufacturing. The Centre grew into The PARC Institute for Inventory, Manufacturing and Logistics where Mike works very closely with the PARC Institute Co-Founder,  Professor Aris Syntetos.

Mike started his career as an Industrial Engineer in traditional metal and plastic manufacturing before moving into the electronics industry. He became Head of UK Operations for Design to Distribution, the manufacturing subsidiary of Fujitsu/ICL which subsequently became part of Celestica in the mid-1990s - one of the world's largest Electronics Manufacturing Services providers. He headed up the $3.5bn European business until 2003 and became part of what was, up until that time, the largest IPO in the electronics industry.

Mike found his way into Third Party Logistics with Exel as President of Technology, which subsequently became DHL. Following some time in Asia, working independently setting up manufacturing and supply chains, he joined Panalpina in 2011.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, a Masters in Operational Research and a Masters in Business Administration from Cardiff University. His particular areas of research lie within the circular supply chain and realising value in de-materialisation and product life-cycle extension, inventory optimisation and innovation and the changing dynamic of global supply chains and manufacturing where he is considered a thought leader and a speaker on the global stage.

Originally from Blaenavon in South Wales, Mike has lived in Europe, North America and Asia and now lives in Valais, Switzerland and Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada.