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William Caunter
• A happy extrovert with a keen sense of humour is perhaps a good description of William Caunter recently appointed to the new post of co-ordinator of marketing and operations for the Port of London Authority. He is well aware, though, of the important role that road transport plays in the development of the company's business for he was, until the beginning of this month, docks manager at Tilbury.
In his new position, he will be responsible for the improvement of customer relations and effeCtive liaison between the PLA and its customers as well as developing business opportunities for the enclosed docks and correlating the company's marketing aims and operational requirements.
In this, he sees a developing role for road transport as well for he believes that in order to advise customers of the best way to use the PLA's facilities it is necessary to include the transport. To do this, he says, he will need to be aware not only of the transport facilities available but also the rates charged.
He envisages that, in time, by co-operation with hauliers, the PLA will be able to offer a complete docks /inland transport package to and from anywhere within the United Kingdom.
A keen sportsman, he has been the captain of the company's cricket first XI and has represented it at soccer and tennis. He is, therefore, well used to dealing with the "fast one" both as a batsman and a wicketkeeper but insists that his new department is a team effort and the other members are D. E. Jenner, formerly marketing manager at Tilbury, and L. E. Richards, formerly assistant to the director of docks.
He is also interested in music of all kinds but it soon becomes apparent when chatting with him that he is a modern jazz enthusiast.
Married and 41 years of age, he has been with the PLA since he left school in 1947 progressing from being, at 21, the youngest ever to be appointed a traffic officer to his present position. His service with the PLA was broken only by a period of service with the Royal Engineers during which he was commissioned.
• He is a graduate of the London Business School. a Member of the Institute of Marketing, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials Handling and a past president of the London Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Perhaps in improving customer relations as part of his new job. Mr Caunter will include the elimination of the frustration and expensive delays to which hauliers are often subjected in transporting freight for export to the point of embarkation.