Changes at the top of THC split operating and planning
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DESCRIBED as a "redeployment" by Sir Reginald Wilson, deputy chairman and managing director of Transport Holding Co., are changes scheduled in the top echelon of the State road transport undertaking.
These moves have been brought about because of the growing involvement of THC in matters of national planning and transport organization generally, and because of the need to relieve pressure on Sir Reginald and his two THC colleagues, Mr. G. W. Quick Smith and Mr. H. E. Osborn.
Because of the growing weight of administration and to enable Sir Reginald to meet increasing responsibilities in other directions (notably in connection with Thos. Cook and Son Ltd., of which he became a director last Friday), Mr. Quick Smith will become chief executive of the THC. Sir Reginald will in future be known as deputy chairman (dropping his responsibility as managing director), the other senior officers reporting to Sir Reginald via Mr. Quick Smith.
The two board officers will be Mr. Quick Smith and Mr. Osborn (who remains in his present position as comptroller).
A new division between operating and planning functions will be brought into effect by the appointment of Mr. T. G. Gibb (at present managing director, BRS Federation Ltd.) as director of freight planning, and by the appointment in due course of a director of passenger planning.
Mr. Gibb's present position will disappear and the opportunity will be taken to integrate the functions of BRS Federation with the THC Freight Association. Mr. E. G. Marsden will act as secretary and chief officer of the Association; Sir Reginald will remain as chairman for the time being.
The common services and common responsibilities of the two bodies will be extended to all freight and shipping companies in the ownership of the holding company, as appropriate, but will no longer include those functions of planning and organization which are now to be carried out by THC through the new post to which Mr. Gibb has been appointed.
It is stressed by Sir Reginald that the redeployment does not in any way affect the identity or responsibility of the operating companies, their directors, or their employees.
What is being done is to widen the top structure of the THC and to divide operating and planning functions in the light of current circumstances.