Auckland, New Zealand, November 2025 – Daifuku Oceania has announced the appointment of Thibaut Caplain as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth and innovation journey.
With more than 18 years at Daifuku, including over a decade in executive roles, Thibaut has played a central role in advancing the company’s leadership across airport technologies and intralogistics. His contributions include the successful launch of Sym3, Daifuku’s award-winning proprietary 3D simulation and emulation software, which has redefined automation standards and customer integration efficiency across multiple global projects.
In his first statement as CEO, Thibaut said: “Having grown within Daifuku for nearly two decades, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible capability, passion, and innovation that define our people. It’s a privilege to now lead this exceptional team, continuing our legacy of trusted partnerships, pioneering technology, and customer excellence.”
As CEO, Thibaut will lead Daifuku Oceania’s strategic direction, driving the organization’s vision of combining technical excellence with customer-focused innovation. His appointment reinforces the company’s dedication to enhancing automation, digitalization, and operational efficiency across the aviation and intralogistics sectors.
Before being appointed CEO, Thibaut Caplain served as Chief Technology Officer at Daifuku Oceania, where he oversaw the company’s digital transformation and technology roadmap, strengthening its market position through innovation and advanced automation solutions.
Earlier, he held the role of Executive General Manager – Digital & IT, where he led major technological advancements and integration projects, including the expansion of Sym3 into global operations, enabling improved system emulation and performance optimization.
Thibaut’s journey with Daifuku began when he joined BCS Group (now Daifuku BCS) as Software Development Manager, where he played a pivotal role in developing advanced virtual commissioning software and contributed to the company’s transition into the Daifuku Group, one of the world’s largest material handling providers.
Before joining Daifuku, he worked as Project Manager at Sentech, and previously held software engineering and project management roles at OpenTV and Altran in the United Kingdom, where he gained hands-on experience in large-scale technology systems and software innovation.
Thibaut holds an MBA from the University of Otago, New Zealand, where he built a strong foundation in leadership, strategic management, and technology-driven business transformation.
Daifuku Oceania is a leading provider of material handling solutions, automation software, business intelligence systems, and operational support for the aviation and intralogistics industries. With offices across New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan, the company designs and delivers tailored solutions that integrate technology with customer needs through its deep understanding of systems and infrastructure.
As part of the Daifuku Group — the world’s largest material handling provider with more than 13,000 employees globally — Daifuku Oceania is dedicated to fostering safety, diversity, and innovation. Its approach is simple yet powerful: listen to the customer, innovate with purpose, and deliver solutions that redefine operational excellence.
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