Appointments and Departures in Shipping, Freight and Logistics

CHINA – The week’s staff moves in the shipping, freight and logistics sectors start on a serious note following the disastrous warehouse explosion at the Port of Tianjin earlier this year in August. The President of the State-owned Tianjin Port Group, Zheng Qingyue has been fired and along with his assistant, Li Hongfeng and the Deputy Chief of the company’s Safety Supervision department, Zheng Shuguo. All three will now face criminal proceeding for alleged dereliction of duty. Zheng has also been removed from his position as Director of the Tianjian international Trade and Shipping Centre.

US – XPO has announced the appointment of Tony Brooks as President of company's less-than-truckload (LTL) business, effective November 11. Brooks will have executive responsibility for XPO's LTL operations in North America, recently acquired as part of the Con-way Inc. transaction.

US – The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) board of Directors has elected Barry Pottle, President and CEO of Pottle's Transportation, as the federation's Vice Chairman, and Kevin Burch, President of Jet Express, as First Vice Chairman.

CANADA – Effective December 1, Jeffrey Ellis will take up the role of Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Canadian Pacific, replacing Paul Guthrie who will retire in the first quarter of 2016. Guthrie is to support the transition under the role of Special Council to the CEO. 

GERMANY – Air Charter Service, has promoted Caroline Werf to Managing Director of its Frankfurt operation.

GERMANY – Kerry Logistics has appointed Thomas Blank as its new Managing Director of Europe, effective immediately. Operating out of the Kerry Logistics Central Europe office in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Blank previously served as Managing Director of South East Asia for Panalpina World Transport, Senior Vice President at UTI, Managing Director at Geodis and Chief Executive Officer in Central Europe for Agility. 

BELGIUM – Alban François has been appointed Vice President of Global Cargo at Brussels Airlines. In this newly created role, he will report directly to Brussels Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Lars Redeligx.

UK – The Chart and Nautical Instrument Trade Association (CNITA) Chart Committee has elected Peter Pran, Head of Global Sales at Nautisk as its new Chair. CNITA’s other elected officers are: President Torben Frerks (Weilbach), VP Celine Mortier (Bogerd Martin) and Priyanka Perera (B Cooke & Son Ltd) as Chair for the Compass Committee.

UK – The Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT) has appointed former General Manager Dave Sparrow, as its new Managing Director.

UK – Palletways has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Dave Walmsley as Member and Network Development Director.

SINGAPORE – Braemar (incorporating The Salvage Association) has announced the appointment of Brian Armour as Senior Maritime Civil Engineer within its Port & Harbours division. He will be based in Singapore.

Photo: Tianjn port boss Zheng Qingyue faces charges.