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Ling Alliance chief exec to go
Page 8
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Consortium Linq Alliance is losing its chief executive and scaling down as it adjusts to changes in the market. Guy Sheppard finds out more.
THE MAN who has masterminded the development of the Ling Alliance haulage consortium is quitting as it struggles to adjust to a downturn in demand.
Chris Sturman's departure as chief executive in the new year is part of a restructuring programme that also involves the closure of its Reading head office. A national traffic office in Derby will take over its operational responsibilities.
Sturman says since the launch 18 months ago, there has been a significant change in mood in both the market and among the consortium's 26 members, who all belong to the TransportAssociation.
"In terms of the Working Time Directive, driver shortages and interest rates, fuel and general costs going up, there is a great deal of uncertainty in the market," he adds. "People are sticking to what they know and what they do best."
Sturman will continue to work for Ling as a consultant but the strategy for the longer-term development of the business is being shelved.
Ling's first contract, worth em a year, was with insulation and plasterboard manufacturer Knauf (CM 27 May). No similar deals have followed but Sturman says a food-related contract is due to be signed by the end of the year.
Martin Brown, chairman of Ling and MD of its member company TH Brown, says the focus will now be on improving efficiency and profitability: "This tightening of supply both among our own members and in the market generally was not the situation when we were forming Ling Alliance and we have to move with the real world."
He says no replacement chief executive will be appointed in the immediate future. However, John McCune, formerly transport operations manager with PD Logistics. has been appointed manager of the national traffic office.