Fabian Koehler is to become chief executive of Culina Group on 1 February 2027, succeeding Liam McElroy, who will move into a non-executive director role.
The appointment is part of a long-planned succession, the group said. McElroy will continue to support Culina’s commercial priorities, providing strategic guidance and continuity, while the two executives work together on a structured handover ahead of the change.
Koehler joined Culina in November 2024 and has served as deputy CEO, playing a key role in shaping and delivering the group’s three-year One Culina strategy. This has focused on bringing its businesses together under a single identity, strengthening collaboration and simplifying its customer proposition.
Before joining Culina, Koehler built his career at Kühne+Nagel, where he spent almost 20 years after starting as an intern in 2005. He went on to become senior vice-president of its Road Logistics division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, giving him extensive experience of managing logistics operations across international markets.
The appointment follows a period of significant restructuring. Culina recently announced it was retiring established subsidiary brands including Eddie Stobart, Great Bear and Fowler Welch, bringing its operations under a single identity and organising them into five divisions.
It has also launched Culina International, combining Stobart Europe’s general haulage operations in Belgium, Germany and Bulgaria with IRF’s unaccompanied transport activities in the Netherlands and UK. Stijn Gheyle has been appointed MD of the new division. The group has also created a business development function, appointing former GXO executive James Gray as group business development director, while Finished Vehicle Logistics becomes a standalone business under Raf Hustinx.
The changes come against a challenging financial backdrop for several of the group’s subsidiaries. Eddie Stobart reported a pre-tax loss of £24.9m for 2025, compared with a loss of £883,000 the previous year, while revenue fell 2.4% to £543.4m. Great Bear recorded a pre-tax loss of £13.2m, against a £15.3m profit in 2024, despite revenue increasing 2.5% to £526.1m. Fowler Welch’s pre-tax profit more than halved to £3.3m, from £8m, although revenue rose 3.6% to £191.1m.
The results reflected a range of pressures, including lost contracts, lower volumes, underutilised capacity, higher fleet hire and increased personnel, property and energy costs.
McElroy said: “It has been a privilege to lead Culina and to work alongside such talented colleagues across the business. Together, we have delivered a transformational programme that has united our organisation under one identity, strengthened our culture and created a platform for long-term success. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and know Fabian is exceptionally well placed to lead the next phase of Culina’s journey.”
Added Koehler: “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO and look forward to working with our colleagues, customers and partners as we continue to build on the strong foundations that have been created. Culina is a remarkable business with exceptional people, deep expertise and an unrivalled customer proposition. Liam has played a significant role in positioning the business for future success, and I would like to personally thank him for his leadership, commitment and vision.”
McElroy’s move also marks a shift from the priorities he set out shortly after taking the CEO role. In a 2025 MT interview, he said the group had identified £75m of savings initiatives in his first three months, with a focus on simplification, efficiency, integration and reinvestment. He also highlighted talent development and succession planning as priorities.
Culina said it would continue to pursue the One Culina strategy under Koehler, with an emphasis on building a more connected, customer-focused and sustainable business.
