Ms Gutmann is a 21-year veteran sales and marketing manager with extensive US and international experience.

Ms Gutmann will succeed Wayne Herring, who is retiring after 38 years of distinguished service and five years as the head of worldwide sales. She is being promoted from her position as president of enterprise sales for the retail, professional services and government sectors.

In that position, Ms Gutmann led a sales force responsible for some of UPS's largest worldwide accounts, including customers that rely on a variety of services beyond package delivery such as logistics and supply chain management and air, ocean and road freight transportation.

Ms Gutmann has joined UPS in 1989 as a marketing intern. She advanced through a series of sales positions of increasing responsibility before being promoted in 1996 to director of strategic sales for the Southeast Region.

In 1999, Ms Gutmann was named the director of sales and marketing for UPS's South California District and three years later, became the director of marketing for the entire Pacific Region.

In early 2003, Ms Gutmann was promoted to vice president of sales for UPS's Southeast Region, and then in 2006 became the vice president of marketing for the Europe Region, which includes Africa and the Middle East. She assumed her current post in 2008.

Mr Herring is retiring after a career that saw him advance through numerous functions and operations before leading a District and then three different Regions. He was promoted to head of worldwide sales in 2006 after playing instrumental roles in upgrading the operation of customer service centers, the UPS Quality movement and creation of the Sales Lead program for UPS employees.

Mr Herring joined the company as a part-time loader/unloader and became a UPS driver in 1976 before moving into full-time management in 1977. Over the next three decades, he advanced through leadership positions in the transportation, business development, labor, engineering, operations and sales functions.

In directing worldwide sales, Mr Herring realigned the function's structure to an industry-based design, increasing the subject matter expertise of those assigned to each area. Most recently, his leadership was instrumental in aligning UPS's coverage and outreach to the middle market to more effectively take advantage of conversion opportunities.

Alan Gershenhorn, senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer of the company, said: “Ms Gutmann brings tremendous experience and ability to this position. Her diverse global experience and knowledge of the UPS portfolio provide her a deep perspective on how to enhance the logistics solutions we provide our customers.”

Will Ms Gutmann's experience benefit the firm?

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