UK independent freight forwarding group, Davies Turner, has made four key senior management appointments within its two main trading subsidiaries. The appointments also include director roles for Edward and Emily Stephenson, the son and daughter of current joint MD Michael Stephenson and the great, great grandchildren of Alfred Davies, who launched the family business in 1870.

Alan Williams, previously director at Dartford, has become national sales and marketing director for Davies Turner & Co, responsible for developing the group’s logistics, overland and ocean freight operations. He will be responsible for determining the overall sales and marketing strategy across Davies Turner & Co, with direct responsibility for major customers. Working alongside the regional field sales teams, he will be responsible for building the company’s presence in the market.

Replacing Williams as director at Dartford is Edward Stephenson who was previously one of the company’s business systems analysts and has also worked at Davies Turner Air Cargo’s Heathrow HQ.

Following the retirement of Mike Dean at Davies Turner Birmingham, Emily Stephenson becomes director responsible for the Midlands hub, which is now the largest in the Group. Emily has a Masters degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Cranfield University and brings to the task a wide practical knowledge of the industry, as well as heading up an experienced management team in both freight forwarding and third-party logistics, the company said.

The board of Davies Turner Air Cargo (DTAC) has promoted James Wheatley to sales director. “His great experience both in the UK and overseas including a stint in the Far East will be invaluable to DTAC, which has produced five record-breaking years in a row and has recently made significant capital investments at its Heathrow headquarters,” the company said.

Davies Turner group chairman, Philip Stephenson commented: “These appointments demonstrate our strong, long term commitment to growing the business and to further investment in sales and development, and are part of an ongoing process at every level of the group to build our winning teams and safeguard the future.”