Peel Ports Promotes David Huck to Chief Executive
Peel Ports Group has appointed David Huck as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. He had been the company's Chief Operating Officer. The group describes itself as the UK's second-largest port group, with £820 million in annual revenue and about 60 million tonnes of cargo a year.
Claudio Veritiero, the former chief executive, stood down earlier this month to spend more time with his family in the South East and to focus on personal priorities.
Sixteen years inside the company
Huck has spent 16 years in senior roles at the business, almost ten of them on the executive team. Before the promotion he was also Chairman of the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Port Security Authority.
As operations chief he led ports and marine operations across the UK and Ireland. That covered six ports and Statutory Harbour Authorities, 24 terminals and more than 2,000 employees and third-party logistics staff. The company credits him with a role in delivering over £1.5 billion of investment and infrastructure.
His earlier career includes six years at Hutchison Ports UK, where he rose to Deputy Head of Container Terminal Operations. Before that he spent a decade in vehicle manufacturing and became an Operations Director.
What he will focus on
The company lists his priorities as keeping the group a safety-leading port operator, growing cargo volumes and supporting jobs, investment and prosperity across its customers and wider supply chain. He will also lead delivery of the group's pipeline of infrastructure and technology investments.
Mark Whitworth, Executive Chairman of Peel Ports Group, said Huck is "a highly respected figure in the business". He pointed out that Huck has been a member of the executive team since 2017 and helped create the business plan he will now deliver. Whitworth said Huck will oversee day-to-day operations and lead the executive leadership team.
Huck said he was proud to succeed Veritiero, who led the group through a period of significant growth, investment and transformation during a five-year tenure. He said the group would build on that momentum and continue its journey towards becoming the UK's leading port operator.
Source: Peel Ports Group