RAY SMUTS GORDON DOWNES has taken over from Gail Smit as the Western Cape regional manager for Maersk Line. Top priority in his new role will be to provide consistently high levels of service to all customers and then to increase volumes and grow ahead of the market, he told FTW. Downes stands 193 cm tall and resembles a college basketball player, although he is more a surfer and social rugby player, even finding time to play club rugby in Japan. A product of Durban High School, he went on to obtain a B.Com and an LLB from the University of Natal, focusing on maritime economics and maritime law. In 2000 he joined the A.P.Moller-Maersk group and participated in the MISE (Maersk International Shipping Education) programme. During his two year tenure on the programme, he alternated between Durban and Cape Town, gaining hands-on experience in customer service and corporate marketing. Upon graduating from the programme in 2002 he took on the role of line manager for Maersk Sealand, with responsibility for intra-Africa trades. Thereafter he moved to Maersk Logistics based in Tokyo, Japan, where he spent two years in a variety of roles covering business in Japan and South Korea. He returned to South Africa after the P&O Nedlloyd integration, and is excited about what he sees as changes for the better. Three aspects have struck him in particular. gFar greater network coverage for our customers, a new focus on working together with freight forwarders, and an injection of new people with fresh ideas and different outlooks - all in all, a wonderful addition to our team,h he said. œ Gail Smit is now based in Gauteng as regional manager for Gauteng and Botswana.
Downes moves into Western Cape hot seat
Comments | 0
