Xavier Urbain has been appointed as CEO of Ceva Logistics, and will replace the outgoing Marvin Schlanger on 2 January 2014.

Schlanger has only been in the role since October 2012, when he replaced the retiring John Pattullo. Under his stewardship the firm has cut costs, renegotiated poor performing contracts and restructured Ceva’s debt.

Urbain, the former head of road and rail logistics and Kuehne + Nagel, and CEO of ACR Logistics, will take control of a firm that retained its profitability in the third quarter of the year, despite a fall in turnover.

In the three months ending 30 September global turnover (which includes contributions from air and sea freight) fell, compared to the same quarter 12 months ago, to $2.1bn (£1.3bn) from $2.3bn, but EBITDA was close to static at $80m (2012 Q3: $81m).

Schlanger said its contract logistics business had recovered: “While the overall market remains sluggish, our actions over the previous months have strengthened the company’s financial position resulting in real traction in the market and a strong cash position.”

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