Apollo in the Spotlight shines on Rommel Lagmay from Catalyst Logistics, based in Manila, Philippines. With over two decades of experience in shipping and freight forwarding, Rommel brings both deep industry knowledge and a forward-thinking mindset to the Apollo community. In this feature, he shares insights from his journey—from his early days with Maersk to his leadership role at Catalyst—while highlighting his passion for sustainability, collaboration, and empowering the next generation of logistics professionals.
Tell us a bit about how your journey in logistics began – was it something you always planned, or did it take you by surprise?
I began my career in shipping in 1999 as part of the Maersk International Shipping Education Program (MISE) at Maersk Line. This gave me the incredible opportunity to study in Denmark while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience working with Maersk Philippines. Although I had some initial exposure to Logistics and Supply Chain early in my career, it wasn’t until several years into my journey in Shipping that I truly experienced Logistics first-hand—when I joined the Freight Forwarding division of Maersk Logistics Philippines. At the time, it was a real challenge since I had no background in Freight Forwarding and limited exposure to Air Freight management. But I embraced the challenge, and before long, I found myself enjoying the world of Logistics—learning immensely from colleagues, customers, and vendors along the way.
If you could change one thing about the logistics industry, what would it be and what impact do you think it will have?
At present, there’s still a noticeable lack of transparency among cargo owners, multimodal transport agents, end-users, and government entities such as the Bureau of Customs. The systems in use are not yet fully interconnected, which leads to inconsistent data being shared across stakeholders. This results in inefficiencies and a lower overall level of service quality.
If we could implement a comprehensive visibility tool that enables real-time data transparency across all stakeholders in the supply chain, it would significantly optimize our processes. The impact would be substantial: cost savings, improved bottom lines, stronger collaboration among stakeholders, and enhanced performance—ultimately leading to greater customer satisfaction.
What part of the supply chain do you think get underestimated, and why?
Green logistics is a critical area in the supply chain that is often overlooked and underestimated. Many companies are primarily driven by KPIs—especially those tied to the bottom line—and tend to view green logistics as an added expense rather than a strategic investment. However, in the long run, green logistics is actually cost-efficient and can serve as a strong selling point for companies. More and more clients today prefer to collaborate with sustainable brands—a trend that’s gaining momentum not just in logistics, but across the broader market as well.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting in your line of work?
Logistics is not rocket science but it’s also not a walk in the park. If you are passionate about delivering results, making customers happy, meeting new people, traveling the world, and feel satisfied when solving a complex logistics challenge – then Logistics is for you.
Looking ahead 5 years, what would “success” in logistics look like for your company or the industry as a whole?
For my company, I envision fully automated operational processes—from first mile to last mile—that enable us to address challenges quickly and with zero errors. I also want my company to be a strong advocate of green logistics, upholding high ethical standards that set us apart from the competition.
For the industry as a whole, I hope to see more companies prioritizing quality service over being solely driven by profitability. Don’t get me wrong—profit is king, as a mentor of mine once said—but quality service is ultimately more sustainable in the long run.
Sustainability is a hot topic in logistics. How is your organization approaching eco-friendly practices?
We collaborate with vendors who are also advocates of green logistics, as our customers increasingly prefer partners that implement sustainable practices. Since transportation is one of our core products—with multiple deliveries taking place on a regular basis—route optimization is both a goal and a responsibility. Waste reduction has been part of our company’s practice since incorporation, and we’re committed to sustaining and even improving this initiative to encourage other companies to prioritize it as well.
You’ve been with us for a few months now – how has the journey been so far? Any highlights or surprises?
We’ve had the opportunity to speak with some members, and collaboration talks are already underway. Our goal is to fully maximize the network to expand our customer base and strengthen our global presence.
What’s one thing you think makes this network different from other professional associations or logistics groups?
It is the passion and genuine desire of the people to collaborate and help in any way possible.
What’s one thing your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
Someday, I want to be an HR practitioner, especially in the field of training and development. There is so much more to learn in Logistics, and I want to share my personal experiences and knowledge to the younger generation who wants to establish a career in Logistics.
Rommel Lagmay, your story moves freight—and minds. Thank you for sharing it with us.