Culina has seen another major management shift this week after David Pickering, chief executive of subsidiary Eddie Stobart, announced that he has left the logistics firm after 34 years.
Pickering’s departure comes just weeks after Ian Smith, Culina Group chief executive, left the business - less than three months after taking up the post.
At the time of his departure, a Culina spokesman said Smith had left for “personal reasons” and thanked him for playing a key role in “driving growth for the business”.
Smith, who was previously the chief executive of Culina’s chilled division, replaced Thomas Van Mourik, who stood down as CEO in October last year after 30 years in the role to become group chairman.
In the same month, deputy CEO William Stobart also stepped down from his role, announcing he would continue with the company as a non-executive director of the group board.
Pickering announced his departure on LinkedIn this week, receiving scores of messages from customers and clients, wishing him well and praising his achievements.
He said: “It is with great pride that I announce my move away from Eddie Stobart, a company to which I have worked for 34 years now; starting as a YTS graduate and finally achieving my early career ambitions of leading the organisation as CEO.
“I have worked alongside some truly talented colleagues, ones that have both mentored and inspired me to strive for the best always.
“I have also had the pleasure to work with some of the biggest clients in the UK and across Europe, I have learnt so much from some of the leading supply chain experts this country has to offer, I have been very privileged indeed.
“I would like to thank you all, from colleagues within Eddie Stobart and the wider Culina Group who have shared my journey, to suppliers and clients who have helped shape my career. It’s been an absolute honour to represent this amazing business.”
In its latest annual results for the year to 31 December 2023, Culina Group reported a pre-tax loss of £25.4m, despite revenues rising to £104.5m (2022: £88.3m).
Meanwhile Eddie Stobart reported a fall in revenue from £586.8m to £505.7m in the same period. Whilst the company made a pre-tax profit of £4.9m (2022: £6.6m), the retained loss for the year was £6.9m, which the group said was the result of a settlement being reached with HMRC in respect of tax liabilities from prior years.
A request for a comment from Culina on Pickering’s departure has yet to receive a response.
