Despite the Holidays Logistics and Transport Related Employment Moves Continue

UK – Richard Burnett, CEO of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) will vacate the position on 31 December after his installation in the role in 2014 when he first joined the organisation from Samworth Brothers Supply Chain after working at Wincanton previously. In a statement he said:

“After seven unforgettable years as the RHA’s chief exec I have decided it is time for me to step down. It’s been a challenging time for so many reasons and I have given all my energy to representing our members and the industry as a whole, but now feel ready for a new challenge.

”I’m incredibly proud to have led the transformation of the RHA during my time here, creating the strong and diverse association we see today. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the RHA staff and support of our members. Thank you.”

All mention of Burnett seems to have been excised from the RHA website and no clearer reason for his sudden departure was offered. However a statement from Chairperson Moreton Cullimore said:

"[Under Richard's tenure] the RHA’s membership has grown significantly and our profile as an association has increased considerably. On behalf of the RHA board of directors and all the RHA employees I would like to thank him for everything he has achieved and wish him the very best for his future endeavours."

US – The US Department of Transportation has confirmed that Meera Joshi, acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA) since January, has been named New York City's deputy mayor for operations. Ms Joshi had been nominated to head up the agency.

Tributes to her service swiftly followed with American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear saying she had led the led FMCSA through historic times including Covid 19, a major pipeline cyberattack and natural disasters and workforce problems, all the while using data and stakeholder input to drive sound policy processes of great help to the industry.

US – A veteran lawyer involved in every major Port of Oakland project over the last 13 years has been named Port Attorney. The Port appointed Mary Richardson, effective December 31, to succeed Michele Heffes who is retiring. This appointment was made during last week's regular Board meeting. Ms Richardson, who joined the Port in 2008, had been Assistant Port Attorney.

As Port Attorney, Ms Richardson will manage a professional staff of attorneys, legal assistants and secretaries responsible for advising Port management on a wide range of critical legal matters. Among other things, the Port Attorney’s Office assists in contract negotiations, litigation and coordination with other public agencies.

The Port Attorney’s role is considered crucial since most Port facilities are operated by commercial partners under lease agreements. Port lawyers help negotiate and review the complex deals. Ms Richardson is a graduate of Cornell University. She earned her law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. She began her career in Oakland as a Deputy Port Attorney.

UK – Software start up Zeus Labs, managers of a platform dedicated to upscaling road haulage processes, has appointed Alistair Lindsay as Chief Operating Officer. He joins from global giant Tesco Group where he spent over 10 years, finishing as Global Head of Logistics.

Lindsay said Zeus addresses the challenge the freight industry is now facing with respect to the movement of fresh air/empty trailers across the length and breadth of the country and that replacing those empty legs with laden legs, means creating a much more environmentally efficient and sustainable transport network.

FINLAND – ASIA – Azimuth propulsion specialist Steerprop Oy has strengthened its presence in China and Southeast Asia by appointing two seasoned propulsion and vessel engineering experts, Ayhwa Ngoh as Regional Sales Manager in Singapore and Robbie Wang as General Manager, Sales in China. The appointments aim to enable closer communications and better customer support in an important market for the shipbuilding industry.

Ayhwa Ngoh has worked with various marine projects for 17 years, and he has experience from both technical and commercial projects on local and global levels. He is stationed in Singapore but will represent Steerprop in the whole of Southeast Asia. Before joining Steerprop, he worked as Regional Sales manager / Naval Architect for Wärtsilä Ship Design in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Taiwan.

Robbie Wang graduated from Wuhan University of Technology, majoring in Marine Power system, and he started in the marine business as a design engineer at Jiangnan Shipbuilding Co Ltd. moving to Rolls Royce Marine China in 2001. Both men will report to Juho Rekola, Director Sales and Project Management at Steerprop.

GREECE – Maritime finance and legal group Watson Farley & Williams has announced that, following the election of George Paleokrassas as the firm’s Senior Partner, Partner Alexia Hatzimichalis will be taking over as Athens Office Head. Alexia, who joined the firm in 2001 and made Partner in 2014, also heads the Assets & Structured Finance team in Athens.

Qualified in England and Wales, originally as a barrister and then as a solicitor, Alexia advises on a wide range of ship finance matters for clients including Greek and international banks, other financial institutions and ship-owning groups and US-listed companies.

She is recommended as a leading expert in her field by legal directories Legal 500 EMEA, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global, with the latter noting she is ‘extremely fast, reliable in her work and with excellent client-handling skills’. WFW was the first international law firm to open an office in Athens and now is the largest international law firm in Greece and in the top five overall.

Photo: Meera Joshi, soon to be deputy mayor of New York City for operations.