Port of Tyne Appoints New Commercial Director

Richard Newton has been appointed Commercial Director, Logistics, for the Port of Tyne, based in South Shields, North East England.

Formerly the Port’s Commercial Manager, the Northumbria University graduate has held international logistics roles in both operational and commercial positions in North East England and Northern Ireland, with Lidl and Montgomery Transport Group.

Richard said: “I am delighted to be building on 13 years’ experience at the Port of Tyne which has included securing new routes, increasing loaded container exports and developing the highest customer service standards for our customers whether they are blue chip global companies or local manufacturers.


“This is a great opportunity to help deliver our strategy for growth, bringing the outstanding customer service and exceptional value we provide across our multi-modal logistics services to new and expanding sectors.”

Nolan Gray, Business Development Director, said: “This is a key role and we are very pleased to have appointed from within the Port. Richard’s experience in port operations and transport management provide an excellent understanding of the supply chain – vital in coordinating effectively with manufacturers, retailers and customers who depend on a seamless logistics solution.”

The Port of Tyne handles regular short-sea feeder container services with Unifeeder, BG Freight and Seago Line, effectively providing access world-wide with import and export connections to Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, St Petersburg and Grangemouth.

An in-house distribution fleet of 189 trucks and trailers offers customers next day delivery anywhere in the UK, while onsite racked warehousing offers pallet storage for some of the UK’s most well-known brands. Customers include Tetley, which has a major tea handling hub at the Port, JML which handles all distribution from South Shields, Nissan and Komatsu exporting cars and machinery and Tynegrain, exporting agricultural products.

Three rail terminals provide flexibility within reach of the East Coast Main Line and the Port has customs clearance to Europe via the Channel Tunnel.