London Gateway's Peter Ward to the take the helm at UKWA

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The UK Warehouse Association (UKWA) has named Peter Ward as its new chief executive. Mr Ward, until recently London Gateway commercial director and head of cargo supply chain, will take over when current chief executive Roger Williams retires in the middle of this month.

Mr Ward has over 30 years’ experience in international transportation and logistics, which began when he joined the export shipping department of Courtaulds plc. He then joined his family’s freight forwarding company, DH Ward (Shipping) Ltd, where he became managing director.

In 1994 he masterminded the company’s merger with US-owned Fritz Companies, which subsequently became a top-five European freight forwarder prior to its acquisition by UPS in 2001.

This was followed by spells as European director of P&O Nedlloyd Logistics, managing director of the Wincanton’s international supply chain division, before he took charge of the non-profit Freight by Water campaigning group prior to its absorption into the Freight Transport Association (FTA)

In April 2011, Mr Ward joined DP World London Gateway where he concentrated on signing up shippers and forwarders to the UK’s newest deep water container terminal and Europe’s largest logistics park – and he was one of the architects behind the deal that saw Import Services sign up to become one of the first Warehouse operators on the site.

Mr Ward is a graduate of the Institute of Export, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

UKWA chairman Tony Mohan commented: “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Peter Ward as CEO-designate of UKWA.  He is a man of considerable logistics experience gained in a variety of disciplines, and will greatly enhance the UKWA team.  He joins UKWA during a period of fundamental change, and we look forward to the benefit of his extensive capabilities.”