Bernard Auton has been named director general of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International.
He takes over from Cyril Bleasdale, the former British Rail InterCity director, who held the position since 1999.
In recent years Auton has specialised in humanitarian emergency relief logistics, forming the Institute’s Humanitarian Emergency Logistics Professionals Forum and working with a number of agencies including the Red Cross, Save the Children, Transaid, RedR and United Nations.
CILT International has more than 33,000 members in over 30 countries. Of his appointment Auton said: “There are exciting times ahead for the Institute, which is ideally placed to help passenger transport and logistics operations across the world survive the effects of the global credit crunch and to further develop its important work in improving vital transport links in developing countries.”
The organisation plans to double the number of CILT sections in different countries over the next 12 months. Auton adds: “Transport and logistics are key to an efficient economy so the CILT is an ideal partner to help governments and other organisations address the international challenges of urbanisation, globalisation and climate change.”
Auton has held a number of roles over the years with Caterpillar in Europe and North America, Finning, Unipart and Inova, before setting up his own consultancy a,b;c in 2007.
He became CILT UK’s overall faculty chairman in 2002 and served on the UK council and board from 2002 to earlier this year.
Richard Hunt, CILT International president, said: “We are delighted that someone of Bernard’s international reputation has accepted this role. His experience working in Africa, the US, China and across Europe will be invaluable.”
