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Harry Kinsey
• The managing directorship of National Carriers Ltd, one of the world's largest transport businesses, would not be an easy job at any time. Mr Harry Kinsey, who took over as helmsman in 1969 when Mr Peter Land headed British Express Carriers Ltd, faces the future with quiet confidence. The rationalization of the parcels and smalls sector called for by the Freight Integration Council has led to the plan for area managers responsible for both NCL and BRS Parcels branches and depots. This move, compelling a common approach to customers, is seen as a challenge, not a retreat.
HK has supported Manchester United since he first saw them play at the age of nine. He resisted my ranging shots about the details of the parcels shake-up with infuriating circumspection, laughing loudly when asked whether British Railways wanted NCL to return to the fold, in company with Freightliners. Immensely proud of the keen professionalism of his management team —mostly ex-railwaymen—he concedes there are problem's in transmitting their verve to operating levels.
NCL's effective internal PR encourages drivers and depot staffs to serve customers with the cheerful flexibility of small competitor firms. Formal joint consultation procedures are part of the NCL set-up: HK attaches equal importance to informal chats with employees.
Of the BRS Parcels strike involving NCL in "herculean efforts" to help out. HK says: -We could have done nothing else, but we'll move Heaven and earth another time to avoid so much congestion. Terrific cost was involved by the strike and there was no benefit to anyone."
Commercial and marketing policies of NCL owe much to HK's sharp mind and evangelical fervour. Proper forecasting of business trends during rampant inflation worries him: even in "normal" times there is much guesswork--no complete marketing study of the parcels/ smalls business has been done, Future traffic flows depend on people's spending habits.
With a wife and three daughters (14, 18, and 21) HK enjoys home life and gardening; he is an omnivorous reader, liking novels by Arnold Bennett, Galsworthy—even Tolstoy's War end Peace. As a local Methodist preacher within the Barnet circuit church, youth work is part of his life, He studies current affairs, economics and politics with discernment, J.D.