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Alan P.
Mansfield
AS senior executive of Hargreaves Transport Ltd, Mr A. P. Mansfield controls one of the largest independent bulk liquid hauliers in the country; yet, but for a twist of fate, he might have been a dentist.
A Manxman, he was educated at King William's College and later crossed to the mainland to enrol as a dental student, but the start of World War II put paid to that — he volunteered, joined the Rifle Brigade and saw plenty of overseas service. He stayed on as a regular when the war ended and finally left the Army jn 1956, with the rank of major, to join Tarslag Ltd, as assistant transport manager.
Alan Mansfield moved to the Hargreaves Group in 1962, as managing director of Hargreaves Motors Ltd and Fred Chapel Ltd. In 1965 he became md of Smith and Robinson Ltd, and seven years later joined the parent board and took up his present position.
He is a man of strong convictions, with a reputation for speaking his mind; he feels that too many managers are managers in name only and have little real control over their situation. He lays some of the blame for this on inadequate recruitment and training of men to managerial level.
Mr Mansfield says: 'Too few people in this industry give enough thought to management planning." Hargreaves Transport Ltd now operates a five-year management plan which is considered to be every bit as important as the company's financial plan. Under the plan, recruits are drawn from both university graduates and ex-drivers in order to maintain what Alan Mansfield describes as a balanced management at the company's six depots.
As chairman of the RHA bulk liquids functional group and a member of the national council he is deeply involved with the public image of his branch of the industry. He sees the functional groups as even more important than the area organization, bringing together members with common
interest. G.M.