From Vietnam to Kingston: de Bollivier brings global experience to KFTL

When Malo de Bollivier accepted the role of Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL), it marked a deliberate step in a career shaped by movement across regions, terminals, and operational cultures. For de Bollivier, Kingston was not simply a new assignment, but a terminal whose scale, ambition, and regional importance aligned closely with his professional trajectory.

With more than 15 years in the ports and shipping sector, de Bollivier’s career reflects a steady shift toward the operational core of global trade. A graduate of ESSEC Business School, he began in banking before realising he wanted to work closer to the mechanics of commerce, where infrastructure, people, and performance intersect daily. That decision led him to CMA CGM, joining as a corporate auditor.

The role took him across the world, conducting audits at terminals, dry ports, agencies, and shipping operations. It offered an end-to-end view of the logistics chain and laid the foundation for his leadership roles, sparking a lasting interest in terminal operations and how systems, planning, and people come together to move cargo efficiently.

De Bollivier then joined Terminal Link as asset manager, overseeing eight terminals across Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa. The role deepened his understanding of how terminals respond to local conditions within global networks and sharpened his focus on performance benchmarking and long-term asset optimisation.

His career then took him to the Indian Ocean, where he assumed senior leadership positions, including managing director of CMA Terminals Mayotte. He led a transformation at the terminal, strengthening operations and positioning it for sustainable growth. Most recently, he served as chief executive officer of Vietnam International Container Terminal (VICT), one of Ho Chi Minh City’s key port facilities. In Vietnam, he guided strategic planning, improved operational efficiency, and worked closely with stakeholders in a complex logistics environment.

PRIORITIES

De Bollivier arrives at KFTL at a moment of momentum. The terminal has recorded measurable improvements in recent years, supported by major investment. New hybrid straddle carriers were commissioned in 2025, two super post-panamax cranes are now in operation, and the Westlands expansion project is under way, adding capacity and flexibility.

“These upgrades reflect an upward trend in performance,” he says. “Our objective is to build on this growth by staying customer-centric and continuing to invest in our people, our assets, and our processes.”

Looking ahead, he outlines three priorities. The first is operational performance. Customers increasingly expect fast, predictable, and reliable service, making streamlined processes, improved planning, and reduced downtime essential. The second is continued investment in people, equipment, and digital tools. Stronger data integration, transparency, and real-time visibility, he believes, are critical to improving decision-making and optimising berth, yard, and equipment allocation. The third is deeper collaboration across the logistics chain. Engaging with shipping lines, authorities, importers, truckers, and service providers is key to developing tailored solutions and reinforcing KFTL’s role as a preferred regional gateway.

De Bollivier is also aware of global trends shaping terminals, from rising customer expectations and evolving vessel sizes to increased sustainability focus. With hybrid equipment already in operation and further technological enhancements planned, KFTL is positioning itself to meet these demands.

Since arriving in Jamaica, he says he has been impressed by the professionalism of KFTL’s workforce and the warmth of the port community. As global supply chains shift and the Caribbean’s strategic importance grows, Kingston Freeport Terminal is a critical node in Jamaica’s logistics future, combining scale with agility, and investment with collaboration. With major projects advancing and performance on an upward trajectory, de Bollivier’s task is clear: to help position KFTL not only to compete, but to lead in the next phase of regional and global trade.