Monday 23 February 2015

FAST-GROWING SEKO LOGISTICS OPENS 8th UK LOCATION IN FELIXSTOWE

Keith O'Brien, SEKO Logistics


SEKO Logistics is building on a record year of sales in the UK market in 2014 with the opening of a further branch in Felixstowe to support its thriving global freight forwarding and FBS (fulfilment by SEKO) logistics operations.

The new office is under the leadership of directors, David Hill and Jamie Harrold, who have both joined SEKO Logistics from CEVA. SEKO’s network of operations in the UK now extends across eight locations, which also include a new London Heathrow base opened in 2014 and a 152,000 square feet logistics centre to support its omni-channel services for global fulfilment, delivery management, returns solutions and ecommerce development and design.

Keith O’Brien, Managing Director of SEKO Logistics, said: “Felixstowe is a strategically important location in the UK and we are confident that David and Jamie will quickly establish a strong presence for SEKO Logistics in the region. Our UK business grew by 28% in 2014 thanks to the growth in our business services and branch network and we will continue to open new business units when we find talented, entrepreneurial and ambitious teams of people who want to be part of our exciting future.”

David Hill added: “SEKO Logistics has an impressive portfolio of products and services and is standing out in the UK market because of its proven track record of offering integrated solutions. We aim to maximise the potential of the offering and continue the SEKO trend of exponential growth through client acquisition and integration.”

SEKO Logistics’ year-on-year growth has been accelerated by its investments in a suite of new solutions that support its customers’ growth, helps them to open in new markets and provides measureable cost saving opportunities. Last year, SEKO Logistics acquired an equity stake in full service ecommerce agency, Red Hot Penny, in its latest move to provide a complete solution for growing retailers. It combines extensive experience in creative design, ecommerce technology and digital marketing with SEKO’s global warehousing and fulfilment operations to deliver a truly end-to-end solution for retailers, particularly luxury goods, arts and fashion brands.

Other services developed in the last 18 months include SEKO Store Development Services, which delivers project and process management solutions to help expanding retail businesses open stores faster, with greater control and cost efficiency, and increase their sales weeks per store in new markets. This complements SEKO Omni-Channel Logistics and its integrated eCommerce and logistics services to fast track traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers into the $1.5 trillion global eCommerce market, one of the fastest-growing parts of SEKO’s business since its launch in September 2013.

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About SEKO Logistics

We provide a suite of logistics services which enable you to use your supply chain as a competitive differentiator. As a customer centric organization, we are powered by the expertise of our people and our in-house-developed, best in class, customizable technology. It is this combination which gives SEKO its strength. With over 120 offices in 40 countries worldwide, SEKO’s unique shareholder management model enables you to benefit from our specific industry sector expertise, coupled with vital in-country knowledge and unparalleled service at the local level. This unique model provides you with:
• Hands-on service and support
• Personal relationships
• Creative, customized solutions
• Responsiveness and reliability
• Flexibility and consistence
We have a flat management structure, with just three layers between you and the CEO, making us ‘fast on our feet’ in delivering solutions that can meet your exact requirements. This lean and nimble structure increases our decision-making speed and gives us an ability to implement customized solutions which far exceed those of our competitors. For more information visit our website


Friday 13 February 2015

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE DELIVERS URGENT OIL PIPES FROM SCOTLAND TO TURKEY IN THREE DAYS


A team of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ experts in Ulyanovsk, Russia and London Stansted combined their expertise to expedite an urgent shipment of oil production equipment from Scotland to Turkey.
Moving the 35-ton cargo onboard one of its IL-76TD- in Istanbul. 90VD freighters took just three days from the initial customer enquiry to delivery of the shipment
“After receiving an urgent customer request, our engineers in Ulyanovsk developed a load plan and multi-purpose shipping cradle to load the cargo of 19-metre pipes and the manufacturing of the cradle was organised by our Stansted team. Whilst this was in progress, Volga-Dnepr’s Engineering and Logistics Center made all the arrangements to rent cranes for the loading as well as a trailer to deliver the pipes to Prestwick Airport. Extra loading equipment was also delivered from Leipzig, Germany, especially for this flight. Despite a strong 20mph wind in Prestwick on the day of the loading, the technical crew of the aircraft completed the hardest part of the project by promptly building up the loading complex on the trailer and in the aircraft, fixing the pipes in the cradle and then lifting them into the cargo hold,” said Huseyn Mammadli, Logistics Executive, ELC, Volga-Dnepr Group.     
The oil production equipment was delivered on behalf of the DHL Global Forwarding company to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. It will be used in exploration and drilling projects looking for new oil and gas fields on the Black Sea shelf in Turkey.

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VIRGIN ATLANTIC CARGO ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT SALES ROLES FOR TRANSATLANTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS



Virgin Atlantic Cargo has announced two new senior management appointments to focus on its increasing transatlantic services and the development of its international network covering Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and Africa.

Steve Hughes, Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Steve Hughes will transition from his role of Regional Vice President Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to the newly-created post of Vice President Sales Transatlantic. In his new role he will be responsible for the airline’s sales in the UK, U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as developing Virgin Atlantic’s transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines to offer more choice and benefits for its customers.
 
Neil Vernon, Virgin Atlantic Cargo
In Hong Kong, Neil Vernon becomes Vice President Sales International, a role that includes his current Asia and Australasia focus and is now extended to incorporate additional responsibility for sales in Dubai, Nigeria and South Africa.

Nick Jones, Head of Sales at Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “Our business across the Atlantic will increase in 2015, supported by new routes such as Atlanta and Detroit, and extra frequencies to and from several of our existing U.S. gateways. We also expect to see further benefits and opportunities for the airline and our customers from our joint venture with Delta Air Lines. Given that we work with many of the same customers on both sides of the Atlantic, Steve’s new role will ensure a single point of contact for those customers and enable us to react to new opportunities faster. We also expect to see continued revenue gains from the other important markets in our international network, driven by Neil and his regional team. As part of these changes to our sales structure, Marie Epstein, Regional Vice President Sales Americas, will be leaving the airline. We wish her every success for the future and thank Marie for her hard work and dedication during her time as Regional Vice President Sales Americas.”


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Monday 9 February 2015

MOVING 50 TONS OF GAS EQUIPMENT TO UZBEKISTAN EARNS VOLGA-DNEPR ANOTHER LONG-TERM PARTNER


Logistics provider G&O Solutions chose to partner with Volga-Dnepr Airlines when it needed to transport 50 tons of gas equipment for a compressor station from Kazan in Russia to Karshi, Uzbekistan.
The cargo was moved onboard two IL-76TD-90VD freighter flights and included rotor and wheelspace, piping and tanks, pumps, coolers and other supporting equipment. These are being used to increase gas production at the Shurtan compressor station in the biggest gas-condensate field in Uzbekistan.
Mr Ismailov, Manager, G&O Solutions, said: “This is the first time G&O Solutions has worked directly with Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Our shipment of outsize cargo was carried securely and in the shortest timescale and we are very pleased with our joint work. Our two companies have already agreed on future cooperation in projects in Central Asia.” 
In 2014, more than 40 companies became new customers of Volga-Dnepr Airlines and contributed 13% of the airline’s air charter sales volume.
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Tuesday 3 February 2015

JENIFER SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UK FREIGHT INDUSTRY




Taking a leading role in the launch of two high profile high street brands into the South African market has helped to earn Jenifer Taylor of Santova Logistics the coveted prize of ‘Young Freight Forwarder of the Year’, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo, in the British International Freight Association’s Freight Service Awards.

Jenifer, who has worked with Santova for four and-a-half years, received her prize at the annual BIFA awards ceremony in London, attended by over 500 executives from the British freight industry. She said: “This is the proudest moment of my career so far! It was an honour to stand in front of some of the biggest businesses and most influential people in the industry and be recognised as being the best in my field. I am constantly learning something new, the industry is vibrant and ever changing, and every day brings another exciting challenge. I enjoy the constant need for problem solving and providing effective solutions, and Santova Logistics provides an ideal environment for innovation.”

Jenifer was encouraged to enter for the award by Grant Crews, Managing Director of Santova Logistics after rising through the ranks of the company, gaining valuable experience, and, in the past year, using her operational skills to support the launch of two of Santova’s customers in South Africa.

“The Freight Industry is a relatively unknown field for school-leavers and recently qualified graduates. It is the lifeblood for global trade and helps shape the economies of the world and the barriers of entry for young people are lower than in many other sectors. This combination creates a fantastic opportunity for young people to build a career in this innovative industry. The BIFA awards puts the high achievers on a pedestal and builds awareness which will ultimately inspire young people to enter the industry,” Grant stated.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Virgin Atlantic Cargo has sponsored BIFA’s Young Freight Forwarder of the Year award as part of its support of the UK freight forwarding industry and to promote career paths in the industry to young people. The award category is open to individuals working for a BIFA Member company who are under the age of 32, with, preferably, a minimum of two years’ employment in the freight industry.

Maria Sanchez- Grant, Regional Sales Manager, UK & Ireland, at Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “We are proud to continue our support of this award and to help encourage more young people to look at the fantastic career opportunities the freight industry has to offer. Jenifer is a great example of the progress a young person can make so early in their career if they are dedicated, motivated and hard working and we wish her every success for the future.”   

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Photo caption:
BIFA awards host Naga Munchetty, financial journalist & television presenter (left) with winner Jenifer Taylor, Santova Logistics (centre) and Maria Sanchez-Grant of Virgin Atlantic Cargo