UPS is appointing David Abney chief operating officer, replacing John Beystehner who retires after 36 years.

Mr Abney, 51, also becomes president of UPS Airlines and vacates the presidency of UPS International, position to be filled by Alan Gershenhorn, 48, now the Brussels-based operations chief of UPS Supply Chain Solutions for Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

As COO, Mr Abney will be responsible for international operations, US package operations, global transportation, labour and freight activities, a company statement said.

"David and Alan honed their managerial skills with a broad range of assignments around the world. They have helped break new ground for our company and have successfully led us into new areas of growth and opportunity," said UPS chairman and CEO Mike Eskew. "They are extremely well prepared to help lead this company going forward."

Mr Abney has served as the president of UPS International since 2002. He began his UPS career in 1974 as a shop floor loader and advanced through a variety of jobs. He has worked in US package operations, rising to become Utah district manager, and then directed freight and logistics in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Mr Gershenhorn, who also started as a loader, became the head of non-operating functions for UPS Supply Chain Solutions in 2004, after joining UPS in 1979 in southeast Texas. He then moved through operations, engineering and marketing, becoming president of UPS Canada. He now joins the management committee.