Virgin Atlantic Cargo scoops up Toll's UK managing director to head its sales team

Steve Buckerfield has joined Virgin Atlantic Cargo as vice president sales.

Mr Buckerfield has worked both for customers and rivals of the carrier, giving him a unique insight. He joins from Toll Global Forwarding, where he has been managing director for the UK and Ireland for the past three years. Prior to that he worked for CH Robinson and Walker Freight Services, and also spent 14 years at American Airlines Cargo, where he became managing director Europe.

In his new role, based at Virgin’s headquarters near London’s Gatwick Airport, he will lead the airline’s global sales team and be responsible for sales across its international network.

“I am delighted to welcome Steve to the Virgin team,” said John Lloyd, senior vice president, cargo at Virgin Atlantic. “He brings a great understanding of both the transatlantic market and the forwarding industry. We have a very talented global sales team and I know they will benefit from Steve’s experience, industry contacts and his appreciation of the way customers think.”

Mr Buckerfield said: “During my career, I have been a competitor of Virgin Atlantic Cargo and a customer and I fully appreciate the power and value of the airline’s passion for customer service. That is particularly important in such a competitive air cargo market because while rates and yields get the headlines, customers more than ever want to work with partners they trust to be reliable. I am really looking forward to the opportunity of leading Virgin’s global cargo sales team and to meeting our customers.”