Imperial Logistics’ operating company, Palletways Group Limited, has announced the retirement of its current chief executive officer, James Wilson, effective 1 July 2019.
Luis Zubialde, the current chief operating officer at Palletways and part of the company since 2006, will assume the role of chief executive officer on the same date. Wilson will continue in an advisory role to both Palletways and the Imperial Logistics’ international division more broadly.
Says Imperial Logistics International CEO Hakan Bicil: “We would like to thank James for his long-standing service and commitment, and the pioneering work that he has undertaken for the Palletways Group. We wish him a very happy and well-deserved retirement, and I am delighted that I will be able to call upon his extensive knowledge and experience in the future.”
Michael Sterk has been appointed to the newly-created post of chief commercial officer of the Palletways Group, effective 1 July 2019. Sterk has worked for Imperial Logistics since 2009, most recently as director of the Retail and Consumer Goods business unit. He will report both to Palletways CEO Luis Zubialde and to Imperial Logistics International chief commercial officer, Sandro Knecht.
The new Palletways Group executive board will comprise Luis Zubialde (CEO), Richard Myatt (who remains chief financial officer), Thomas Olsson (who remains chief information officer), and Michael Sterk (CCO).
Palletways operates Europe’s largest pallet network, with over 400 depots strategically located throughout 24 countries, delivering up to 40,000 pallets a day.
About Imperial Logistics:
Imperial Logistics has three divisions, of which Imperial Logistics International is one:
· Imperial Logistics is an integrated outsourced logistics service provider with a diversified presence across Africa and Europe
· Over 30 000 staff at 340 locations in 38 countries
· Provides customised value-add logistics, supply chain management and route-to-market solutions to multinational clients in selected geographic markets and industries.
· Specialists in logistics for agriculture, automotive, chemicals, energy, consumer packaged goods, industrial, mining, healthcare
· 2018 revenue: R51,4bn and operating profit of R2,8bn
Imperial Logistics International:
· One of three divisions of Imperial Logistics (the others are South Africa and African Regions)
· Headquartered in Duisburg, Germany (State of North Rhine-Westphalia)
· Responsible for all group logistics activity outside Africa
· Operations span forwarding, shipping (60m tonnes pa), liquid/general road freight (600 trucks), barge operations (600 owned, rented and chartered motorized and non-motorized units), express freight (Western Europe’s largest network for palletized express freight, 10m pallets pa), and 3PL/4PL services
· Unmatched capability in the European chemical industry, with more than 60 chemical tankers, 15 gas tankers and 23 specialised warehouses
· In South America, 84 barges and 7 push boats transport over 2.2 million tons per year
· Over 9000 employees at 170 locations in 20 countries
· 2.2m sq m of covered storage space
· Specialisations in automotive, industrial, consumer goods, chemical
· 2018 turnover €1.6 billion