Logistics expert appointed new head of Nightfreight

A West Midland overnight delivery company has appointed a leading logistics industry figure as executive chairman.

Robbie Burns will combined the jobs of chairman and chief executive at Willenhall-based Nightfreight.

His appointment follows surprise departure in July of previous chief executive Steve Allen.

Mr Burns was founding chief executive of Exel Logistics and has held a number of board advisory roles at Tiphook Ryder, Tibbett & Britten and Hays.

He was behind the recent Burns Inquiry into freight taxes and foreign competition on behalf of industry bodies the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association.

John Aspin, who has been running the business since Mr Allen”s departure, will resume his position as a non-executive director with the Nightfreight group.

The company, which has been through two management buy-outs since 2001, announced in March that it was back in the black after a year of losses.

It posted pre-tax profits of GBP 4.1 million for the year to November 30 2006 compared with a loss of GBP 6.2 million the year before.

The company currently employs more than 2,400 staff at over 70 operating sites around the UK and operates in excess of 1,000 vehicles.

Last year it successfully delivered over 18 million items and has a turnover of GBP 140 million a year.

The privately-held company was founded in Willenhall in 1984 and still has its headquarters in the town.

Mr Burns said: “The UK express freight sector is both dynamic and competitive and has contributed greatly to the growth of the UK economy.

“Nightfreight will be another new challenge and I am looking forward to helping the team move further forward.”