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Cameron Mann
• James Cameron Mann has always believed that the key to success in any type of industry lies in the application of modern management techniques. Since his appointment five weeks ago as managing director of Priestley (Transport) Ltd, of Newtonle-Willows, a member of the Cyprien Fox group, he has already begun to put his beliefs to the test.
One of his first moves was to bring about "a dramatic change" in the company's organizational structure by redefining employees' responsibilities in order to improve efficiency of operation. If his record to date is anything to go by it is more than likely that Cameron Mann — it has always been a family tradition to use the second Christian name — will make many more beneficial changes. In his previous post, as director of a Coventry company manufacturing high-tensile bolts and setscrews, he introduced and amended a number of management controls including programmes for quality control, preventive maintenance, and productive development, all of which improved operating performance.
Despite his extensive knowledge of management matters and' practice, Cameron Mann is quick to admit that the transport industry is an entirely new field to him and that he is still has a lot to learn. However, as far as Priestley Transport is concerned, he believes that any firm involved in warehousing, distribution and haulage should look upon its warehouses as its shop windows and its drivers as its salesmen. This is an aspect he intends to improve in the near future.
Soon he hopes to become more involved in the transport field to a much greater extent by taking up activities on various committees. Until then he is passing his spare time participating in his many hobbies which include golf, water skiing and Scottish country dancing. Another of his hobbies: is home decorating and this is perhaps why he feels strongly about what he terms "good housekeeping in industry". He believes that with the use of good management, which he considers has been lacking in many speres of the road transport industry for too long, he can greatly improve efficiency and operation
in his own company. T.O'T.