Trucking Announcements: VPs named at Stevens Transport, Stewart Transport

Several major North American transportation and logistics firms have announced key leadership changes and executive promotions this week to bolster their operational and financial management. Verst Logistics, Stewart Transport, and Stevens Transport are among the companies filling critical vice president and C-suite roles to navigate evolving supply chain demands. These appointments signal a focus on internal growth, succession planning, and the modernization of business intelligence within the freight sector.

Verst Logistics, a provider of transportation, warehousing, and packaging services, announced that Todd Johnson will become CEO on August 1 while maintaining his current role as president. Johnson, who has over 30 years of industry experience and has served as president since 2019, succeeds Paul Verst. Paul Verst has led the company as CEO since 1992 and will now transition to executive chairman, where he will focus on long-term strategy and industry relationships. Johnson’s new responsibilities include overseeing the company’s strategic direction and day-to-day business performance.

Stewart Transport has promoted Jeremy Ricketts to vice president of fleet operations, a role in which he will join the executive leadership team to oversee fleet growth and the company's employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) culture. Ricketts brings a deep background from previous roles at JB Hunt, Swift Transportation, and Updike Distribution Logistics, having most recently served as Stewart's director of maintenance and equipment. Simultaneously, Stevens Transport has appointed Michael Norris as vice president of finance and accounting. Norris, a veteran with 30 years of experience at firms like Artur Express and CFI Transportation, will lead financial planning, modernization of financial systems, and business intelligence initiatives.

Other notable appointments include Southeastern Freight Lines promoting Clay Cullins to service center manager in Fort Myers, Florida, following his decade-long tenure with the LTL carrier. In North Carolina, National Fleet Management and its division Heavy Duty Truck Supply (HDTS) named Stephen Turner as regional manager, Randall Windstead as director of operations, and John Kenneally as director of shop operations. Additionally, Dealer Solutions Mergers & Acquisitions expanded its Western Canada presence by hiring Michelle Christie as an M&A associate specializing in the trucking and heavy equipment sectors to advise on valuations and ownership transitions.