New top managers have taken charge at British parcels companies Home Delivery Network (HDNL) andNightfreight.
With effect from January 2008, Brian Gaunt has taken over as Chief Executive Officer of B2Cspecialist HDNL from Walter Blackwood, who will take on the role of Chairman. HDNL said that Gauntwill have overall responsibility for the strategy and performance of the company at a time when ithas a substantial opportunity to grow in size and profitability.
Gaunt was previously UK Managing Director, Food and Consumer, at Christian Salvesen Plc,where he managed the provision of logistics services for a number of major UK retailers and wasresponsible for annual revenues of more than £300 million and 6,000 colleagues spread over 45sites.
“I am delighted to be joining HDNL at this exciting time,” Gaunt said. Given that UK retailis increasingly transacted online and delivered directly to customers’ doorsteps, HDNL is wellpositioned to take advantage of a huge market opportunity. I look forward to leading the companythrough the next phase of its development”.
Under Walter Blackwood, HDNL was formed through the successful integration of BusinessExpress and Reality Group, and in two years has built a reputation for high quality home delivery.HDNL, with 62 parcel depots, is the UK’s largest home delivery and collection service.
Separately, specialist parcels carrier Nightfreight announced that logistics expert RobbieBurns, founding chief executive of Exel Logistics, has taken over the jobs of chairman and chiefexecutive. He replaces John Aspin, a company non-executive director who had run the business on atemporary basis following the departure of previous chief executive Steve Allen last July.
“The UK express freight sector is both dynamic and competitive and has contributed greatly tothe growth of the UK economy. Nightfreight will be another new challenge and I am looking forwardto helping the team move further forward,” Burns said.
