13) Malcolm Wilson, MD, Logistics, Norbert Dentressangle
A Brit on the board of French logistics giant Norbert Dentressangle, Wilson has been rewarded for the successful integration of Christian Salvesen and TDG into its UK logistics business, acquisitions which shot ND into the premier league.
While ND’s spending spree may be over in the UK, it no longer needs to buy turnover or assets, having the critical mass it needs to bid for just about any contract it wants to take on. In the first half of 2014, ND’s Logistics division overtook Transport for the first time, posting revenues of over €1bn (£800m) and profits of almost €40m (£30m), while the UK accounts for around one third of ND group revenues, the second largest after France.
ND has ambitions to overtake Wincanton to become the UK’s second largest logistics operator (according to the Motor Transport Top 100 2014, there is barely a hair's breadth between them - it all depends on how you judge to comparrison), and may even one day challenge DHL Supply Chain. While Wilson’s mantle in the UK has now been passed to Richard Cawston, the former will remain key to ND’s growth on this side of the Channel.
Over the next 20 days we will be counting down our Top 20. As ever, we’d welcome your feedback and input into the debate. Send us your thoughts on Twitter - @Motor_Transport - using the hashtag #MTPowerPlayers