The Downton brothers have stepped down from the day to day running of CM Downton, with the former MD of Bibby Distribution Duncan Eyre taking the reins.

The succession follows CM Downton’s purchase by EmergeVest last year and subsequent role within the recently formed EV Cargo.

Andy, Richard and John Downton have all transferred to non-executive roles at the business that bears their name and is a constituent of EV Cargo’s Logistics division.

Downton Brothers

L to R: Richard, Andy, Johnny Downton.

Eyre served more than two years as MD at Bibby Distribution, before being placed on gardening leave in August until the end of last year ahead of his move to CM Downton.

He joined Bibby Distribution in May 2013 as development director from XPO/Norbert Dentressangle.

Zac Brown has joined CM Downton from Palletways, where he was director of owned operations, as the haulier’s operations director as part of the changes.

Ben Armstrong will continue as finance director at CM Downton, but he has also stepped up to become finance director for EV Cargo’s Logistics division.

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Established in 1955 with its headquarters in Gloucestershire, CM Downton had a turnover of £117m for the year ending 30 June 2017, and made a pre-tax profit of £5m.

It runs 600 tractor units and 1,800 trailers, employing 1,350 people at locations including Moreton Valence (its headquarters), Quedgeley, Shepton Mallet, Chepstow, Sharpness, Hardwicke, Tuffley, Runcorn, Manchester, Leeds, Dunstable, Chatham and Tilbury.

Downton serves a range of industry sectors, including food and drink, retail, manufacturing, ink and paper, print and publishing, energy, waste and consumer goods. Clients include AB InBev, Dyson, Whirlpool, Fever-Tree, Saica Paper, UPM-Kymmene Corporation, Frontline and Marketforce.

It comes as the heads of EV Cargo’s four operational divisions were revealed.

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