JAS Worldwide
6195 Barfield Rd.
Atlanta, GA, USA
Maria Paula Eslava's family owned a freight forwarding company in Colombia, but she felt her true passion lay elsewhere. While her parents moved to the United States, Maria chose to stay behind, determined to carve her own path. She pursued a degree in Marketing and Advertising, dreaming of one day working at a prestigious advertising agency in New York City.
While working through university, she joined the family business, taking a position in the Sales Department. Though it wasn't her chosen field, Maria approached the role with dedication and a positive attitude, viewing it as a stepping stone towards her ultimate goal.
That's when fate stepped in.
From sales, then to procurement and finance, she started learning more about the intricacies of the industry and quickly found that she loved operations—she knew very early on, that was her sweet spot. "I'm a natural problem-solver and I love customer service. I believe sales brings the customer, but its operations that maintains the customer."
For the next few years, she grew her knowledge and worked her way up to Operations Manager. The family business was growing just as fast at Maria's skills and love for the industry. So, when JAS officially purchased her parent's organization—making it JAS Colombia, shortly after, Adrian Emmenegger, Executive Vice President, Americas, presented her with the opportunity to lead JAS Colombia as its Managing Director.
"I was very young. I was probably one of the youngest, and I was the only woman. I was very excited, but I also knew it would be a big undertaking and I would be doing some things I had never done before." To no one's surprise, Maria flourished in this role, and she looked inward to see where she really wanted to take her career. "For a long time, I kept telling myself I would start over and pursue my dream in advertising. But when I finally acknowledged my love for the industry I was working in, and decided to put both feet in the water—I saw the results right away." Maria doubled down and earned her Executive MBA, and even focused her graduation case writing on the industry experience. She reaped the benefits of fully stepping into the moment she was in.
Shortly after this decision, fate stepped in again, and she was given the opportunity to move to the United States to manage the Miami Branch—leading her to another opportunity, where she would meet new challenges, she had never met before. Maria wasn't a stranger to unknown circumstances and knew exactly what she needed to do to succeed, "When approaching the unknown, I know when to ask for help and combine it with my adaptability. I learn from others and build teams by surrounding myself with those who are passionate and know more than I do."
Now in her new role, in a new country, Maria reflects on her leadership journey and how far she's grown. "When I started out, I was very controlling, but I soon realized that it was not beneficial for me or my team. Years of building trust helped me to change my approach."
In Miami, Maria focuses on fostering inclusion and ensuring her team stays the course. "Now instead of micromanaging, I give clear directions and build the roadmap, together, with my team." In a branch where there are over 15 different nationalities represented in just 45 employees, empathy and understanding play a key role in Maria's success as branch manager.
"What truly motivates me every morning is the constant opportunity to learn. I strive to approach things differently and think outside the box. I owe everything to the opportunities that JAS has given me, consistently supporting my professional career while understanding my role as a mother of two young men, who are my driving force and daily strength. In an industry typically led by men, JAS has always made me feel valued, safe, and secure."
Maria's unplanned career in logistics is a testament to the growth opportunities that JAS creates and the accomplishments that can come with them—if you just lean in. Her journey from reluctance to embrace the family business to becoming a respected leader in the industry illustrates the power of adaptability, perseverance, and a willingness to learn. Maria's story is a reminder that the paths we initially resist can lead to the most rewarding destinations. By seizing the opportunities presented to her and fully committing to her roles, she has achieved remarkable success and continues to inspire those around her.
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Update - September 4, 2024
We are happy to report that all essential systems to our operations have been restored following the recent incident. JAS SmartHub is now functioning, so customers are able to track their shipments in real time. The vast majority of customers and vendors are being serviced as usual, and any backlogged requests continue to be worked through by our dedicated team. For any customers still dealing with specific issues, we are working to resolve those as quickly as possible.
While our operations have been restored, we continue to remain vigilant and closely monitor any potential risks. We are continuing to work with cybersecurity experts to finalize our investigation and further enhance the security of our systems.
We are extremely appreciative of the patience and support that our customers and vendors have provided as we have worked to resolve this issue. Given our restoration progress, at this time, we are no longer anticipating posting additional updates on this page. We will continue to work with customers directly to resolve any issues. For any specific questions that you may still have regarding this incident, please reach out to your regular JAS contacts and they will support you.
Update - September 3, 2024
Our central operating systems and all core functions are operating as normal. With most customers and vendors doing business with JAS at the pre-incident level, we are approaching full recovery while staying vigilant, closely monitoring potential risks, and enhancing our security measures to mitigate potential future disruptions. We conducted a global password reset and have taken additional measures to enhance our cybersecurity posture.
Backlogged requests are at a manageable level, and many local-specific functionalities are safely coming back online. Our US Customs data flows are also back online, with a couple of exceptions, which are still undergoing restoration and are not critical to our operations. Customers should reach out to their regular JAS contacts with any specific questions about their shipments.
We remain fully committed to supporting our customers during this period and will continue to provide updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
Update - September 2, 2024
Our central operating systems are working well, and all core functions are operating. We are approaching full recovery, and most of our customers and vendors have resumed doing business with JAS at the pre-incident level across most geographies. We are staying vigilant, closely monitoring potential risks, and implementing additional security measures to mitigate future disruptions.
Any remaining backlogged requests and local-specific functionalities are being tackled and resolved methodically and professionally.
We remain fully committed to supporting our customers during this period and will continue to provide updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
Update - September 1, 2024
We are progressing steadily toward full restoration while remaining vigilant. Our team continues to closely monitor any potential risks and implement additional security measures to mitigate future disruptions.
Our central operations are fully operational, customers are being served, billing and payment systems are operational, and data integration with customers' and vendors' systems has been restored in most cases. Our team continues to work through any remaining backlogged requests, and local-specific functionalities are being tackled and resolved.
We remain fully committed to supporting our customers during this period and will continue to provide updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
Update - August 31, 2024
Our dedicated team has been working tirelessly through the weekend, around the clock, to restore services and provide support to our customers. Our central operations systems have been up and running since yesterday, our team is working through backlogged requests, and more functionalities are being released over the coming days. Our customers and vendors have been communicating safely, continuously, and promptly with JAS via our email system and website, which were never impacted as a result of this incident, and we are also pleased to report that our primary customer facing portal, JAS SmartHub, is safely back online as well.
We are on the path of stability and approaching full recovery. As we continue to work to restore all impacted systems, we will communicate specific workarounds on a case-by-case basis. We are taking a careful and step-by-step approach while closely monitoring any potential risk and implementing additional security measures to mitigate future disruptions.
We remain fully committed to supporting our customers during this period and minimizing disruptions wherever possible. We will continue to provide updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
Update - August 30, 2024
We are pleased to share that we have reached a significant milestone in our system restoration. C1, our central operations system, is back up and running, and the system is ready for use worldwide.
Our dedicated team is working tirelessly as we continue to restore services and provide support to customers while implementing additional security measures to mitigate future disruptions. As we move forward, we are taking a careful, step-by-step approach to ensure a stable recovery. Services will be restored gradually, and some functions may take longer to return to full operation. We remain fully committed to supporting our customers during this period and minimizing disruptions wherever possible. We will continue to provide updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
Update - August 29, 2024
We are making significant progress in our recovery efforts, with our dedicated JAS team members working tirelessly to restore our services and provide support to our customers. While we continue our thorough investigation and cautionary measures, we have a path forward. Our email system and website remain secure, so it is safe to communicate with our team as usual.
We appreciate the tremendous support from our customers and the industry community. We remain committed to transparency and will continue to provide updates on this page as we reach new milestones in our recovery process.
Update - August 28, 2024
Our investigation and necessary actions to recover continue to progress. JAS team members are working around the clock to restore and resume services to our customers and vendors. Although we still do not have a definite time frame, in many countries we have successfully activated contingencies locally to serve urgent needs, and we are happy to report that the majority of our contract logistics business and a few of JAS entities have not been impacted. We remain committed to transparency and will provide further updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
August 27, 2024
JAS is experiencing technical disruptions impacting our ability to operate and provide services to our customers. Upon identification of this issue, we immediately secured our systems and commenced an investigation with assistance from external cybersecurity experts. Based on our investigation to date, we have determined that this cybersecurity incident was the result of ransomware.
At this time, we do not have an estimated time frame for restoration, but we are working around-the-clock to restore access to our systems and provide services to our customers and vendors.
Our investigation is ongoing and in its early stages. We will provide further updates on this page as we have additional information to share.
JAS is thrilled to welcome Multilogistics S.p.A. and Setoa S.p.A., which officially join the group on May 27 and July 10, respectively, following the acquisitions led by JAS Jet Air Service SpA.
With the acquisition of Multilogistics, JAS strengthens its logistics presence in Europe and is preparing to expand its offerings to customers in the increasingly in-demand vertical sector of Contract Logistics. Multilogistics is known for its highly specialized and customized customer solutions, thanks to the deep experience that has always distinguished it in the logistics sector.
Multilogistics is based in Liscate (Milan), not far from the original offices where JAS began its journey and which over the last four decades have led it to significant global growth. The success achieved is certainly the result of choosing to collaborate and select companies that, like Multilogistics, invest in their employees and maintain high standards in customer services.
"We are thrilled to join forces with JAS Jet Air Service and the JAS Worldwide Group, a recognized leader in the global logistics industry," said Massimo Mirizzi, President and CEO of Multilogistics. This partnership offers tremendous opportunities for our team and our customers. By combining our local expertise with JAS Worldwide's global reach and innovative, sustainable solutions, we can offer our customers added value in their business and excellent service."
With the acquisition of Setoa S.p.A., JAS further expands its business into new markets, adding West Africa in particular among the territories now covered directly by its services. Thanks to Setoa's entry into the group, JAS's offer now expands to Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, Gabon, Congo, Mali and Burkina Faso.
"Both of these acquisitions represent an important step in our growth strategy and I am confident that they will create new synergies that will better meet the needs of our customers with an advanced range of logistics solutions expanding our global footprint with these new markets," said Leonardo Baldi, Regional Vice President and CEO of JAS Italy.
Since 1997, Setoa has boasted considerable experience in a complex and peculiar market such as the African one and can offer a highly customized service to customers. Its expertise gained over almost thirty years in this niche market, combined with JAS's experience and vast worldwide network, will contribute to enriching the offer to customers with complete and innovative solutions.
"The acquisition of Setoa Italia S.p.A. by the JAS Group marks an important evolution in the expansion and strengthening of our global capabilities," said Massimo Boccadelli, CEO of Setoa Italia S.p.A. "This combination will allow us to offer our customers an even wider range of innovative services and solutions, consolidating our leadership in the international shipping sector in West Africa. The collaboration between Setoa and JAS will redefine the market standards in Africa, opening up new prospects for growth and success worldwide."
About JAS Worldwide
JAS Worldwide, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and supported by 7,000+ team members in more than 100 countries, it focuses on creating solutions that are innovative, sustainable, and unique to each customer's needs. At the heart of its success is its people, who are committed to delivering customer value. As a privately owned company, JAS maintains a steadfast commitment to creating opportunities for our communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive. Together.
JAS China and JAS Australia are proud to announce their co-sponsorship of Asia Fruit Logistics 2024, the leading trade show for the fresh produce industry in Asia. JAS Fresh Logistics is a specialized service that offers tailor-made and temperature-controlled solutions for the transportation and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. With our global network, extensive experience, and dedicated team, we can ensure the quality, safety, and freshness of your products from farm to fork.
Asia Fruit Logistics 2024 is the annual trade show for the fresh fruit and vegetable business in Asia. It will take place from 4 to 6 September 2024 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. The event will attract over 700 exhibitors and 13,000 visitors from more than 40 countries, showcasing the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in the Asian fresh produce market. Asia Fruit Logistics 2024 will also feature a rich program of conferences, workshops, and networking events, providing valuable insights and connections for the industry professionals.
Why Visit Our Booth?
Join us at Asia Fruit Logistica 2024 and visit our booth at Hall 5-5E44 to discover how JAS can meet your fresh goods transportation needs with precision, reliability, and a customer-centric approach. Let's explore the opportunities together and pave the way for a successful partnership in the dynamic world of Fresh logistics.
We look forward to welcoming you to our booth and discussing how JAS can elevate your fresh food logistics experience to new heights!
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