Volvo Group chief executive Olof Persson is stepping down with immediate effect and will be replaced by Scania president and CEO Martin Lundstedt in Octover. Until then, Volvo's group CFO Jan Gurander will be acting chief ewxecutive. Lundstedt was picked for his "winning leadership style", according to Volvo chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg.
CILT (the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) has revealed that its chief executive, Steve Agg, is to retire at the end of December, following nearly 10 years in post. The process of choosing his successor is underway and the institute expects to announce an appointment by the autumn.
Bryan Sitko is the new managing director of Leyland Trucks, the subsidiary of Paccar, whose factory in Leyland, Lancashire, is the only volume truck maker in the UK. Sitko takes over from Ron Augustyn who is returning to the US to take up another role with Paccar. Augustyn joined Leyland in September 2012, having spent 16 years with Paccar in North America and Europe, most recently as operations director for Paccar Parts Europe, based in Eindhoven
Kevin Lanksford has been appointed fleet and specialist vehicle sales director for Scania (Great Britain), reporting to Scania's UK truck sales director Martin Hay. Lanksford – who has spent 27 years in the industry, joining Scania from DAF in 2913, where he was fleet sales director – succeeds David Johnson, a long-standing Scania employee who retires later this year following 32 years service.
Ryder has appointed Mary Parker national rental sales manager for Scotland and the north of England, to strengthen its sales team. Parker's career is all about trucks, mainly in sales and business development roles, as well as operations, having worked for several transport companies as well as a major retailer.
Chris Hunt has joined Optare's sales team as regional business development manager to cover the north of England and Scotland. He will report to Tim Matthews, head of Optare sales. Hunt has more than 20 years experience in the bus and coach industry, including in new vehicle build and aftermarket repairs.
Nick Cleary, technology director at Autoglass, is to lead the company's new digital strategy and technology investment. He joined Autoglass 25 years ago and has held numerous position – most recently heading up customer contact centre.
Erling Pedersen, who has worked at Logitrans for the last 46 years, most as president, has handed over the reins to his daughter Gitte Kirkegaard Berg, formerly sales director at Logitrans. The company is family owned, having been founded by Erling Pedersen's parents Ingrid and Nis Andersen Pedersen on 1 May 1940. Dorte Pedersen, also daughter of Erling Pedersen, is production director of Logitrans in Denmark and general manager of Logitrans in China. Together Dorte and Gitte will constitute the management of Logitrans.