Elaine Kerr has spent more than three decades working for the parcel delivery company DPD. After originally joining as a sales executive, Kerr worked her way up to the senior management team in 2008 and was appointed UK chief executive in June 2021.
Kerr took the helm at an opportune time – the Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in demand for DPD's parcel delivery services and the business posted record revenue growth the year prior to her appointment. DPD has continued to grow under Kerr's leadership, employing an additional 20,000 people and delivering more than 400 million parcels a year. Here, she talks about what it takes to steer an organisation through challenging times and how to get the best out of your people.