In 2008,
Geodis joined
SNCF’s new Transport and Logistics division following a takeover by its major shareholder. That same year, on the basis of a long-term contract Geodis acquires IBM Global Logistics, IBM's global logistics flow management platform, giving rise to the Group's fifth business: Geodis Supply Chain Optimization. In 2009, Geodis continues its program of external growth with the acquisition of two of the four divisions of Giraud International: the Iron and Steel business and the Central and Eastern European Area business. In 2012,
Marie-Christine Lombard joined as chief executive officer. In 2015, Geodis acquired OHL (
Ozburn-Hessey Logistics) and enhanced its freight forwarding and contract logistics offerings in the US. In 2021, following significant air-freight capacity shortages due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, Geodis leased an
Airbus A330-300 converted freighter for Geodis Air Network. The aircraft is operated by
Titan Airways and is to fly between Amsterdam, London, Chicago and Hong Kong.
Background Calberson The origins of the logistics company Calberson date back to 1904 when Emile Calberson founded a courier business in Le Havre transferring to and on the rail network, by 1910 his company had expanded to serve the entire Paris-Rouen-Le Havre railway line. In 1925 the company incorporates, becoming the
Société des Transports Rapides Calberson. In 1932 France Domicile Transport (FTD) acquires a majority share in the company, and it becomes
Société Nouvelle des Transports Rapides Calberson (SNTR). In 1955 it is acquired by the SNCF road transport subsidiary Sceta. With state backing the company expanded, acquiring Schenker France in 1966, and beginning overseas operations. In 1984 the company, as
Compagnie Générale Calberson (CGC) had its shares publicly offered on the Paris stock exchange.
Geodis In 1995 Calberson, along with its overseas operations, as well as the company Bourgey-Montreuil, and other non-rail freight businesses of SNCF-Sceta, were combined into Compagnie Générale Calberson which was renamed as
Geodis. The Geodis group was subsequently privatised in 1996. In 1997 Tailleur Industrie was acquired, in 2000 the express delivery service Extand was sold to the UK Post Office, and had acquired the cargo operations of the Italian firm Züst Ambrosetti by the end of the year. leading to its acquisition and incorporation into the subsidiary Geodis Wilson in 2008. Additionally the group begins to handle forwarding for
FedEx in France in 2006 in the same year. The company became
Geodis Wilson in 2007. In April 2008 SNCF made an offer for 57% of the shares in Geodis, (having originally had a 43% stake) at 462 million euros, thus taking control of the company and effectively re-nationalising an organisation that had been privatised twelve years earlier. The bid was authorised by the French stock market regulator AMF (
Autorité des marchés financiers) in May.
SNCF Geodis Following the acquisition of Geodis
SNCF Geodis became the name of the corporate division of SNCF for all freight and logistics, both internal and international, including non-rail activities. In March 2009 the Geodis take-over of
IBM's Global Logistics company first announced in December 2008 was finalised., additionally as part of the purchase deal of the logistics business Geodis became the sole logistics supplier for IBM with a multi-year contract. In September 2009
Veolia Cargo was acquired by
SNCF and
Eurotunnel, the business units acquired by SNCF were subsequently rebranded along with other international rail freight companies in the SNCF group in February 2010 as
Captrain. In January 2010 the total acquisition of Ermewa (a major European wagon hire business) by SNCF Geodis via the SNCF subsidiary company
Transport et Logistique Partenaires SA was cleared by the European Commission. In December 2010, SNCF Geodis completed its purchase of ITL Eisenbahngesellschaft. Research of the
social democratic party in the European Parliament, the
Sheffield Hallam University and further Groups accuses Geodis in 2023 of using
Uyghur forced labour camps provided by the Sunrise Manufacture Group Co. for production of clothes. ==Divisional structure==