The FTA has revealed that internal candidate David Wells will succeed Theo de Pencier as chief executive from 1 May.
Wells, who joined the FTA in 2009 as finance and IT director, subsequently took on additional responsibility for the association's vehicle inspection service, training and the tachograph analysis service.
This included the development and recent launch of Visionfta. He is currently MD of finance and operations at the FTA.
Before FTA, Wells held a number of finance-related roles, working for the likes of corporate recovery project Greenman Group, ventilation specialist Hotchkiss Group and fan manufacturer Vent-Axia. He built a field of both internal and external candidates to top job.
He said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role at an exciting time in FTA’s development. There are big challenges and changes facing the freight industry including driver shortage, road investment and the impending general election.
“It is important for me to continue the work FTA does in support of our members and I will strive to build on the success and reputation of the association incorporating the priorities of the freight and logistics sector.”
FTA president Ian Veitch added: “I would like to congratulate David Wells on his appointment as chief executive.
“With his extensive business and management experience David emerged as the outstanding candidate to become FTA’s chief executive. He clearly demonstrated his knowledge and understanding of the freight industry and the logistics sector from both a policy and commercial aspect.”
De Pencier will continue in his role, which he has held for eight years, up until the end of April as part of a transition period.