NFC changes at top level?
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CHANGES in the management structure of the National Freight Corporation are likely, following talks between Secretary of State for Transport, William Rodgers, and chairman of the NFC, Sir Dan Pettit.
Key to the changes is probably the poor financial performance made by the Corporation's member-companies in 1975 — a collective loss of £31 million.
Severe criticism of the way the NFC was being run was levelled at Mr Rodgers from both sides of the House during a recent debate on the Transport (Financial Provision) Bill.
Up to 1975, the NFC had a two-tier management system, with Sir Dan Pettit as its full-time chairman. After that date, the executive Board was scrapped and replaced by a smaller chairman's policy committee, and Sir Dan became part-time chairman.
The smaller committee consisted of Victor Paige and Peter Thompson (both executive vice-chairmen) and P. W. McGrath, the comptroller.
It is widely believed that Mr Rodgers wants to see more professional transport men on the Board, and the introduction of successful executives would help the Board keep a better control of the NFC's member-companies' financial performance.