June_XPD_Newsletter_2019

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Xpediator Plc NEWSLETTER



June 2019 edition

Newsletter 1.0






CONTENTS
Page:

Opening letter - Stephen Blyth................................ 2

Recent Appointments................................................. 3

Interview - Eric Buggy................................................ 3-4


Interview - Colin Dowling.......................................... 5-6

Interview - John Eynon.............................................. 7-8

EshopWedrop news.................................................... 9


Xpediator selects Transaid......................................... 10

Delamode news........................................................... 11

Affinity update.............................................................. 12

Company Spotlight - Pall-Ex Romania.................... 13-15


Tribute - Bob Shayler.................................................. 16

Employee spotlight - Darren Copperthwaite........ 17

Employee spotlight - Paul Nichols........................... 18


Whisteblowing Policy................................................. 19

Launch of BuzzBrand.................................................. 20

The Notice Board........................................................ 21

The Competition - win Amazon Vouchers............. 22




















@Xpediator


Xpediator

xpediator.com

1.

Opening letter




Message from Stephen Blyth, CEO Xpediator Plc

June 2019 edition

The following changes will take effect from
1st September 2019:
• Myself currently as Chief Executive Officer
Welcome (CEO), will become Executive Chairman;
• Stuart Howard, currently Chief Financial
Officer (CFO), will become Chief Executive
Officer (CEO); and
I am delighted to be writing my first message in our new • Alex Borrelli, currently Non-Executive
Xpediator newsletter. Chairman, will become Senior Independent
Non-Executive Director.
2018 was a transformative year for Xpediator and it has
been a pleasure to welcome new companies and employees We remain focused on expanding the Group
to the Group and be a part of our continued growth. We organically and through acquisition and we
achieved many of our objectives in terms of acquisition have a pipeline of opportunities that are in
targets and expanding the scale of the Group, but most varying stages of negotiation. Our acquisition
importantly we are well placed to continue to grow. targets are selected on the basis they will en-
hance the Group’s existing market presence,
I was delighted with our full year results, which show the add further service capabilities and benefit
Group’s significant expansion in 2018 with revenue increasing significantly from being a part of the wider
by 54.1% to £179.2 million and reported profit before tax Xpediator Group.
increasing by 130.5% to £5.6 million. The financial results
achieved in 2018 evidence the progress we have made The Board is strategically planning to invest
across all our markets. Through a combination of organic alongside the growth of the business to
growth and complementary acquisition we are seeing positive ensure the company has the resources and
performances across all our divisions. Good cash generation infrastructure to manage the enlarged Group.
during the year reflected a strong focus on working capital Over the last 12 months the Company has
and increased financial disciplines. The Group has a solid made a number of senior appointments
financial base with the financial headroom to support the including Stuart Howard, (CFO and soon to
Group’s future ambitions. This rate of growth continues the become CEO), Michael Grange, our new Chief
momentum from the previous year as the Group establishes Financial Officer and COO eCommere, Simon
a network of freight and logistics management operations Youd, Head of M&A and Integration and most
across the UK and Europe. recently Jon Wright, COO of UK logistics. We
are also actively recruiting a Group HR
Pleasingly the outlook for 2019 and beyond is very positive Director to complete the management team.
and we anticipate another year of strong organic growth
and implementation of many new projects In 2019, the Company will focus investment
throughout our businesses. into expanding the Group’s physical and digital
infrastructure.
As recently announced we have made
some positional changes to our Board I would like to take this opportunity to
to support the enlarged business, thank each and every one of you for the
whilst also enabling the Group to con- contributions you make to helping the Group
tinue to grow. meet its strategic objectives and I look
forward with great excitement to what 2019
will bring us.

Yours sincerely,
Stephen Blyth
CEO, Xpediator Plc 2.

New Senior Appointments





























Stuart Howard Michael Grange Simon Youd Jon Wright Dan Harris
CFO CIO & CEO eCommerce M&A and Integration COO Logistics (UK) IT Infrastructure Services
(to become CEO on 1st & Operations Director
September 2019)

The interview



Eric Buggy - Regional Express


When Eric Buggy founded Regional Express in 2012 he began PART OF XPEDIATOR PLC
with a blank piece of paper. Now he is part of a company
with a turnover of over £8m. “I don’t think we have done too
badly,” he says. “There are many exciting projects in the pipe-
line and anyway they won’t let me go just yet.”
Regional Express became part of the Xpediator Group in he jokes.
November 2017, the Group’s second acquisition.
As a freight forwarder, Regional’s biggest
At that point Eric, the Chief Executive Officer, contemplated customer is the global giant Amazon,
retirement. “But that isn’t going to happen just yet as I am transporting the online organisation’s orders
enjoying this new chapter in Regional’s evolution.” out of America and across the UK.

“Amazon has a vast number of companies
selling on its website and they recommend
us to their customers. We effectively secured
around 900 new clients last year.

“We are growing all the time but the really
good thing about being under the Xpediator
umbrella is that we can keep our own identity
and that is important.

“We are a trusted brand with an excellent
reputation and it is vital from our customers’
point of view, that that doesn’t change.”


3.

is to accommodate the evolving requirements
of its current clients, whilst providing a facility
to support the growth and acquisition of new
e-commerce related business.
Regional Express offers a total package for clients and that The new warehouse is in an excellent location
includes VAT registration, advice on returns and VAT filing for air, sea and road freight, as it is positioned
and payment. This gives clients peace of mind that they are less than 3 miles from the container port of
fully UK compliant. Southampton, with quick links to both the M3

and M27 motorways.
Eric began his career in logistics at London’s Heathrow
Airport 46 years ago. He moved to Bournemouth in 1990 The warehouse contains an office and private
to work for a large company and rose to become Managing yard within the self-contained 1.15 acre site
Director. In 2012, he left to start the journey of establishing and also offers:
Regional Express with his co-partner Geoff Evans, setting
up serviced offices in Romsey. • racking for pallet storage;
• a mezzanine floor for fulfilment storage; and
“Being part of Xpediator was the perfect match • a fully-implemented Access Delta
for me. We are talking to divisions throughout the Warehouse System, resulting in an

Group to maximise synergises and working as a automated and integrated storage and
fulfilment service.
team, all with our separate skills, specialisms and
identities” Managing Director of Regional Express, Neil
Curran said:
Eric spends his spare time on the golf course and following
his beloved AFC Bournemouth at home and away. He is a “The new warehouse reflects the growth in the
life vice-president of the Premier League club, an honour business as well as positioning us to be able to
bestowed in appreciation of his support when the Cherries meet future demand. Speed and efficiency are
were languishing at the very bottom of the football league key to our business and this new site will assist
ten years ago and things looked bleak. “I’m enjoying the club us in meeting these goals for both air and sea
being in the dizzy heights of the Premier League now.” he freight. The additional warehouse space also
says...along with his business success too, no doubt. facilitates our strategic plans to further enhance
our fulfilment services for current clients, whilst
providing a platform to attract new clients within
The news the ecommerce sector.”


CEO of Xpediator, Stephen Blyth,
Regional Express moves into new Southampton warehouse commented:


Regional Express has signed a 10 year lease on attractive “We’re very pleased to see Regional Express build
commercial terms for a new 19,289 sq. ft warehouse facility on their strong performance and look forward to
in Southampton, close to the port. offering all our clients more efficient freight
forwarding solutions. Since integration within
As part of its strategic growth plans Regional Express is the Xpediator Group in November 2017,
developing its specialist ecommerce fulfilment services and Regional Express has enhanced our ability to
the rationale for adding a further 19,289 sq. ft. of warehouse offer customers sea and air freight capabilities,
and this new warehouse will be a further asset
within the Group, one which may also prove
additionally valuable should there be a hard
Brexit.”









4.

Colin Dowling




Managing Director - Anglia Forwarding








Colin Dowling says Anglia Forwarding offers “total
international logistics solutions.”

In other words, the company can deliver anything to
anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time, by land,
sea or air.


“Yes, I suppose that just about covers it.” says the Managing The Group also has an e-commerce expertise
Director, who joined the company in 1987. “We find the that will benefit Anglia Forwarding’s clients,
best solution in terms of service and price for all our Colin believes.
customers, wherever they are.”
Anglia has also been a longstanding business
Anglia Forwarding became part of Xpediator in June 2018. partner of global network the United Shipping
Its established reputation and business lines made it an Association, with access to 375 offices and
attractive proposition for Xpediator. 5,000 staff across the world. Anglia has also
been a longstanding business partner of
“It’s a great move for us because we are able to global network the United Shipping
work as an enlarged group and share the expertise Association, with access to 375 offices
and 5,000 staff across the world.
and specialisms across the group.” said Colin.


“It’s a very exciting move forward.”


The company is based in Rainham, Essex, but also has
facilities in Birmingham, a dedicated air freight office at
London Heathrow and a presence at Felixstowe to deal
with ocean freight clearance. Anglia Forwarding conducts
much of its business with China, Japan, India and Bangladesh
both sending out freight but also in bringing it into the UK.
The United States is also a key market.


One area of expansion is Western Europe, which fits well
with the strength of another member of the Xpediator
Group, Delamode, in Eastern Europe.

“We are working closely together to develop that market. It’s
one of several big advantages of being under the Xpediator
umbrella.”












3. 5.