Friday, September 4, 2020

Shipping and Logistics Departures and Appointments Start on a Melancholy Note

Demise of a Warehousing Industry Stalwart Leads Staff News
Shipping News Feature

UK – It is with great sadness that the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) has announced the death of Douglas Fearnley, an active member of the Association Management Board for many years who latterly travelled regularly to the mainland from his home in Guernsey to attend Board meetings and UKWA events. Fearnley passed away on August 27, aged 75, following a recent illness.

He was the son of Jim Fearnley, original founder member in 1944 of the National Association of Inland Warehouse Keepers, who was several times Chairman and one-time Vice-President of the association. Douglas Fearnley followed in his father’s footsteps during the sixties, joining the NAWK council in his late twenties and continuing to provide stirling support to the association over the next forty plus years.

A true veteran of the logistics industry, having joined his father’s business, Archbolds Storage, in 1961, Douglas served on the Boards of Archbold Group and Ocean Cory Distribution, prior to setting up JD Fearnley Transport & Warehousing in 1985, later to become JDF Logistics. His knowledge, wisdom and words of encouragement, combined with his sharp wit and humour, will be sadly missed by his many colleagues within the UKWA and the wider logistics community.

His funeral will be held at 2.00pm on Tuesday 8th September at The Forest Methodist Church, in The Parish of The Forest, Guernsey. The family have requested ‘family flowers only’, with donations to The Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief, c/o Hon Sec, Mrs S Butler, Meldrum Way, Braye Road, Vale, GY3 5PR.

On behalf of the Management Board, Executive Team and the membership, the UKWA would like to express deepest sympathy to Douglas’ wife, Julia, and the Fearnley family at this sad time.

UK – Lloyd's Register (LR) has announced that after a 14-year career with LR and over five years as Group Chief Executive Officer, Alastair Marsh has decided to step down from his role and retire from the Lloyd’s Register Group Board on December 31, with a view to taking on some non-executive and advisory roles.

Nick Brown, currently Marine & Offshore Director, will succeed Marsh as Group CEO and join the LR Group Board on January 1, 2021. Brown will continue in his current role until this date.

UK – Andrea Rossi has become the new Chief Executive Officer at DB Cargo UK, effective since September 1.

UK – Pall-ex has announced the promotion of Paul Pegg to the role of Operations Director. Pegg joined the logistics network in 2018 as Transport Manager before being promoted to UK Head of Operations. He began as Acting Operations Director in the first week of March – just two weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown.

UK – Unique Magazines, a magazine subscription and distribution firm, has announced Peter Carr to the role of Management Accountant, Laura Hewitt as its new Digital Marketing Manager, Jordan Cook as Warehouse Operative, and Ellie Purvis as a Customer Service apprentice.

UK – GREECE –Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has announced that long-standing Athens Office Head George Paleokrassas has been named Global Maritime Sector Co-Head, alongside London-based Lindsey Keeble, who has led the sector since 2014.

DENMARK – With AP Moller-Maersk having recently completed the acquisition of KGH Customs Services, Lars Borjesson, CEO of KGH, will going forward lead the combined customs related activities of both KGH and Maersk in Europe.

US – Aries Worldwide Logistics has announced Joe Bento to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. Bento will have oversight of the Company's field sales, which includes creating strategic sales hubs around the country, as well as the global freight forwarding network. He will report to Aries Owner and CEO, Jeff McIntyre.

Bento joined Aries from Radiant Logistics where he held several positions including Chief Operating Officer.

US – The American Trucking Association (ATA) has announced Katie McMichael as Director of ATA's new Moving & Storage Conference. Prior to joining ATA, McMichael was Director of government affairs at the American Moving & Storage Association.

US – Union Pacific (UP) has announced Clarissa Beyah as the company’s new Chief Communications Officer. She is responsible for driving the railroad's corporate communications strategy, overseeing executive and employee communications, media relations, digital and social media, and serving as the communication's adviser to Union Pacific's Chair and senior leadership team.

UP also named Craig Richardson interim Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. He succeeds Rhonda Ferguson, who also served as Corporate Secretary. Richardson most recently served as Vice President of Commercial and Regulatory Law. Richardson will hold the interim Chief Legal Officer role as Union Pacific conducts a search to identify Ferguson’s successor.

Ferguson is pursuing an exciting new opportunity outside of the company. She had been with Union Pacific since 2016.

Photo: Douglas Fearnley R.I.P.