Thursday September 18 10:45 AM EDT
Company Press Release
Reorganization of Clipper Worldwide
LEMONT, Ill., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A major reorganization of Clipper Worldwide (``Clipper'') has been announced by
President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Andy Sze. The changes will be effective October 1, 1997.
Mr. Sze said Clipper will be organized into three specialized business units, each serving major market segment and headed
up by an Executive Vice President. The three units will be Global Air and Sea Transportation, Domestic LTL
(less-than-truckload) Land Transportation and Domestic Truckload. Each unit's sales force will be cross trained to utilize the
capabilities of the other units. Operations of all three units will continue to be managed by a single Vice President of
Operations to achieve maximum cooperation and efficiency.
Mr. Sze said the restructuring ``is designed to maximize Clipper's unique capabilities in providing single source multi-modal
transportation to both domestic and international shippers.''
Wayne Schmidt, Executive Vice President of Clipper, will lead the Global Air and Sea Transportation unit. Prior to joining
Clipper, Mr. Schmidt was instrumental in the rapid growth and development of a major NVOCC (non-vessel operating
common carrier) company.
Jim Keenan, Executive Vice President of Clipper Exxpress, will handle the Domestic LTL Land Transportation unit. As
Clipper Exxpress's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, in the last two years, Mr. Keenan has grown its LTL business
significantly. Previously, Mr. Keenan was a Regional Vice President with Clipper's sister company, ABF Freight System,
Inc.
Jay Hirst, Executive Vice President of Clipper Freight Management, will handle the Domestic truckload unit. Mr. Hirst's
transportation experience covers all five segments of Clipper's truckload business -- intermodal marketing, refrigerated
transportation, truckload brokerage, longhaul trucking, and local drayage. His extensive relationship with shippers, railroads
and other motor carriers will help the company achieve much success.
Each business unit will have its own specialized customer service and sales and marketing staff who will collaborate in
providing single source solutions. Bill Driscoll, Vice President of Operations, will manage the integrated linehaul and pickup
and delivery operations for all three units.
``After this reorganization, each business unit will be led by a capable business leader with a proven success record. Clipper
will be well-positioned to achieve the strong revenue and growth targets we have set,'' Mr. Sze said.
Clipper is owned by Arkansas Best Corporation, (Nasdaq:ABFS).
SOURCE Arkansas Best Corporation |
