Ashworth joins Kinaxia board

Kinaxia Logistics has appointed leading industry figure Neil Ashworth to its board to support the development and roll-out of its digitalisation strategy.

Ashworth has more than 25 years’ board level experience in the logistics, supply chain, retail and e-commerce industries, with a track record of helping companies and organisations remain at the forefront of market innovation and transform their operations into the digital era.

He is a former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and in a recent role was the director of delivery channels for the Department of Health and Social Care’s Covid-19 testing programme across the UK.

Before that post he was chief strategy officer and chief commercial officer at Yodel Delivery Network and chief executive of Collect+. He previously also held senior roles at companies including Tesco and Woolworths.

Currently Ashworth is non-executive chairman of private equity-backed e-commerce fulfilment specialist Selazar, a non-executive director of global healthcare supplies business 2San Global and an adviser to product data technology business IVIS Group.

Kinaxia chief executive Simon Hobbs said: “Neil brings a great deal of experience to our board, both from a supply chain and retail perspective, and will help us refine and implement the digitalisation of the business.

“I look forward to working closely with Neil and benefiting from his proven expertise.”

Ashworth said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Kinaxia Logistics as they build on their already impressive journey to create a leading force in the UK logistics market.

“My experience complements the capabilities of the existing team, and I look forward to working closely with Simon to drive future growth as a non-executive on the board of directors, which reinforces and highlights the board’s commitment to promoting good corporate governance.”

Kinaxia employs more than 1,600 staff across its businesses and has a fleet of more than 800 vehicles which transport goods for supermarkets and other retailers as well as the leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

Headquartered in Macclesfield, Cheshire (UK), Kinaxia offers contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management and storage services from its nationwide warehouse facilities.