Ownership

Ownership

An independent family-owned enterprise

Since its inception in 1985, Porath Customs Agents GmbH has remained 100% family-owned. As sole owner, Jürgen Porath established the company and developed it into a specialised firm for customs clearance. In 1992 his son Thorsten Porath entered the business. Four years later the trained freight forwarder was appointed Director.

Following Jürgen and Anneliese Porath’s death in 2003, Thorsten Porath took over all company shares as well as assuming sole management control. Hence the company’s continued independence and impartiality has been ensured.

In addition to his activity as Managing Director, Thorsten Porath volunteers for various associations and clubs: Amongst others, he is a member of the Customs Committees of the Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband (DSLV), the Verein Hamburger Spediteure (VHSp), and Hamburg Chamber of Commerce (Handelskammer) and vice chairman of the Vereinigung Hamburger Zolldeklaranten.

In November 2011 he joined forces with his long time partner, lawyer Dr. Lothar Harings, and founded the HZA Hamburger Zollakademie (Hamburg Customs Academy).