XY Retail Strengthens Leadership with Irfan Khan to Fuel Global Expansion
XY Retail Inc announces the addition of Irfan Khan as director of marketing, as XY Retail continues to grow its leadership team to support increasing demand for its innovative unified commerce platform. Khan's proven track record in driving growth and marketing will be instrumental in propelling XY Retail's global expansion plans.
Khan brings over 14 years of executive-level marketing expertise to XY Retail. Previously he served at AVANA Companies, a Capital Investment company, where he headed the marketing vertical for four of its business units, including CUSO. Throughout his career, Khan has held key marketing and growth positions at leading FinTech, SaaS, Investment, and EdTech companies in both the US and Asia, including LendThrive, Uprise and CMR Group.
Synergy Logistics Promotes Brian Kirst to Chief Commercial Officer as Business Ramps Up
Brian previously looked after all customer facing elements of the business in North America, but now oversees all aspects of sales, marketing, support and aftersales globally.
He brings 30 years of experience in supply chain, logistics and digital technology. Prior to joining Synergy in early 2022, Brian co-founded and launched two high growth 3PL order fulfillment companies –Total Reliance in 2014 and Resurge in 2019. Both scaled successfully with Synergy’s highly flexible SnapFulfil warehouse management system (WMS) as the differentiator.
The restructure also sees chief product & delivery officer, Smitha Raphael, take on a more global role with the development services and implementation teams. Both report directly into Synergy Logistics chairman, Hugh Stevens.
Motiv Names Scott Griffith as CEO and Board Member
Motiv announces the appointment of Scott Griffith as its new CEO and board member. Griffith has spent the past 30 years founding, leading, scaling and advising leading technology-based companies that have often been market disruptors operating at the intersection of technology and mobility. Immediately prior to joining Motiv, Griffith served as CEO of Ford Motor Company’s Autonomous Vehicles and Mobility Businesses, where he oversaw the development of Level 4 autonomous vehicles as well as overseeing Ford’s portfolio of strategic investments in future mobility businesses.
4C Associates Continues Growth with New Managing Partner Appointment
Paul Bestford joins commercial, supply chain and operations consultancy 4C Associates as a managing partner working across its Retail and Consumer, Financial Services and Life Sciences practices.
Paul Bestford brings a wealth of experience combining transformation and leadership of high performing global functions across luxury, retail, life sciences, management consultancy and aviation. Working with leading organisations, both in industry and consulting, Paul’s previous roles include senior positions at Nutreco, Burberry, John Lewis Partnership, Novartis, Wyeth (Pfizer), Ariba, KPMG, Ernst and Young, Amlin and British Airways. The newly appointed Managing Partner will build on his track record of delivering competitive advantage through innovation, agility and cost.
Florida Trucking Association Welcomes Elizabeth Emmanuel
Florida Trucking Association (FTA) announces Elizabeth Emmanuel as vice president of public affairs. With a distinguished career spanning both the public and private sectors, Emmanuel brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to her new role at FTA.
Prior to her role at FTA, Emmanuel served as the CEO of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, a special district responsible for economic development and advocacy in Florida’s Capital City. In that role, Emmanuel testified before numerous governmental bodies, built strong partnerships with the North Florida business community, and led hundreds of events.
Savage Announces CEO Retirement and Successor Appointment
After more than a decade of leadership, Savage announced that president and CEO Kirk Aubry will be retiring from the company on Dec. 31. COO Jeff Roberts is being promoted to the additional role of president, effective immediately. Roberts will assume the role of CEO on January 1, 2025.
While leading Savage, Aubry and the Savage team brought new businesses into the company in the agriculture, infrastructure, and environmental sectors. During his tenure, safety, operational and financial performance surpassed even historically strong levels. This transition is part of the Board’s succession plan that’s been in process for several years. Roberts joined the company as chief financial officer in 2016 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2022. He was selected unanimously by the Savage Board of Directors to succeed Aubry as CEO.
In Memoriam: Barbara Spector Yeninas
Barbara Spector Yeninas, of Holmdel, NJ, died on May 31 at the age of 84. She was the founder of the premier marketing communications agency BSY Associates, which specialized in maritime, supply chain and logistics and this year celebrated 50 years of business. She will long be remembered as a trailblazer who paved the way for women in the male-dominated maritime industry.
Over the course of her lifetime, Barbara and her company won many creative advertising and marketing communications awards. In 2000, she was named New Jersey Businesswoman of the Year by the Girl Scouts of America, and in 2007, was given the honor of being one of the top 50 Businesswomen in New Jersey by NJ Biz Magazine. Then in December 2008, the Containerization & Intermodal Institute awarded her with its Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of work in the industry.
But what Barbara will be remembered for most of all was her deep commitment to helping, caring for, and lifting those around her. She was always thinking of others—and as good friend and colleague Joe Bonney said, “She just made everyone better.”
