ABP announces reshuffle of directors

Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced a number of key management changes in the form of the appointment of new port directors for Grimsby & Immingham, Hull & Goole, the Company’s 11 Short-Sea Ports and its five South Wales Ports.

John Fitzgerald, previously port director for ABP’s five South Wales Ports of Newport, Cardiff, Barry, Port Talbot and Swansea, has been promoted to the role of port director at Grimsby & Immingham. Fitzgerald joined ABP in 1997 as sales and marketing manager for Grimsby & Immingham, becoming its deputy port manager in 2002. He was then promoted to port director of Short-Sea Ports in 2004, before being promoted to port director of South Wales in October 2005.

Matthew Kennerley will become port director of South Wales Ports and is currently the ABP’s port director for Hull & Goole. Kennerley joined ABP as a management trainee in 1989. He took over his current role in June 2005 after previously serving as assistant port manager for the Port of Southampton. Before this, he was deputy port manager for ABP’s South Wales Ports, and before that, he held the post of marketing manager for ABP Grimsby & Immingham.

Currently port director for ABP’s 11 Short-Sea Ports, Matt Jukes will assume the position of port director at Hull & Goole. Jukes joined ABP as a dredging technician in 1994, before transferring onto the company's management trainee scheme. He assumed his current role in October 2005 after previously serving as deputy port manager at Hull & Goole. Prior to this, he held various positions within the company including positions in South Wales and Grimsby & Immingham, where he spent time as an operational quay foreman.

Nick Ridehalgh, currently ABP’s port manager for the four North West Ports of Barrow, Silloth, Fleetwood and Garston, will take on the role of port director for ABP’s Short-Sea Ports of King’s Lynn, Lowestoft, Ipswich, Teignmouth, Plymouth, Garston, Fleetwood, Barrow, Silloth, Ayr and Troon.

Ridehalgh assumed his current role in September 2004, after previously serving as port manager for the Ports of King’s Lynn and Lowestoft.

All port directors will assume their new roles on February 1, 2008.