Yusen Logistics UK MD Kevin Appleton has stepped aside after four years in the role, making room for his deputy Andy Fitt to fill his shoes.

Appleton will remain with the business as its chairman, in a newly created and less time consuming role in which he will focus on the development of senior staff members to assist with the transition.

Kevin Appleton Yusen 1

Kevin Appleton will remain with the business as chairman in a reduced-time capacity.

New MD Andy Fitt has been with the operator for three years and has previously worked for CEVA Logistics, Norbert Dentressangle (now XPO Logistics) and TNT.

He said he is excited to take on the responsibility in a "highly competitive and challenging market".

He added: “I look forward to further enhancing our performance and delivering on our M&A strategy; whilst ensuring business continuity through future challenges. As always, we will place customers at the heart of our business.”

It's been a busy year for Yusen so far, which it kicked off with the addition of 95 new MANs and Renaults to its fleet back in January in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.

March saw construction finish on its new warehouse in Wellingborough, which should be fully operational by August, and raises its national warehousing space to more than 2 million ft².

In April, the operator renewed its long-standing contract with Mitsubishi Electric and landed a new deal to provide warehousing services to Seiko UK.