LQ's mandate to provide “Ideas for Leadership in Logistics,” is clearly evidenced this issue with articles written by professionals and logisticians from America and Canada who are leading and transforming business by creating new roadmaps and definitions for leadership in this exciting field.
David J. Closs, LQ Executive Editor: Dr. Closs is the John H. McConnell chaired Professor of the Eli Broad College of Business, Department of marketing and Supply Chain management, Michigan State University. He has consulted with more than 100 of the world's Fortune 500 corporations regarding logistics strategies and systems. He is an active member of Council of Supply Chain Management professionals.
Clifford F. Lynch of C. F. Lynch & Associates has been in the logistics industry for 45 years. Mr. Lynch was with The Quaker Oats Company for 29 years, the last 13 of those as Vice President - Logistics. He was president of Trammell Crow Distribution Corporation from 1987 - 1993, and has provided management advisory services in logistics for the past 12 years. He is an adjunct at the University of Memphis and a frequent lecturer at other colleges and universities and an author of numerous articles on the subject of logistics and two books on logistics outsourcing. Mr. Lynch is a member and past president of the Council of Logistics Management and has received numerous awards in the field of logistics, including the CLM distinguished Services Award, and University of Tennessee Department of Marketing and Transportation Distinguished Alumnus as well as the President's Award for outstanding contribution to the American Society of Transportation and Logistics. Mr. Lynch is a director of The Memphis Food Bank, and is licensed as an affiliate real estate broker in the State of Tennessee. He has consulted for clients in the United States, China, The Philippines, Mexico, and European countries.
Scott Davis is CFO of UPS and responsible for all that company’s financial activities and serves as liaison to the finance, investor and analyst communities. He is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s board of directors and the finance committee of the Georgia Council on Economic education.
Victor Deyglio, Executive Editor, is the president and CEO of the Toronto-based Canadian Professional Logistics Institute. Some of Mr. Deyglio's roles and responsibilities at the Institute include strategic leadership, program and project development and management, research design, training and organizational management. He is the former Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Canadian Institute of traffic and Transportation, and the former General Editor of Canadian transportation Law Reporter. Mr. Deyglio has taught at numerous universities and colleges in Canada. He has two Ph.Ds.
Jim Davidson, President, iWheels Dedicated Logistics, began his career in logistics at the Ford Motor Company in 1963 where he worked in all aspects of logistics for 17 years. Mr. Davidson joined TNT in 1983 and held various management roles including roles in operations, administration and general management for a number of different divisions. He also served as the TNT board member representing North America at their european-based board meetings. He has served on the executive council of the Canadian General Motors Supplier council as well as Executive Vice president of the ATA Council of Logistics located in Alexandria, Va.
Art Mesher is the Chief Executive Officer of Descartes. He provides strategic direction for Waterloo, Ontario-based Descartes with direct responsibility for the executive management team. In 1998, Mr. Mesher joined Descartes where he led the creation of the first on-demand logistics network that provides application and communication capabilities for all three major modes of transporation: road, air and ocean. In his role as EVP Strategic development, Mr. Mesher helped implement success-based pricing and logistics innovation services, enabling the acceleration of value for Descartes’ customers. In May 2004, Mr. Mesher was appointed to Descartes' Office of the CEO and subsequently appointed CEO in November 2004.
Before joining Descartes, Mr. Mesher launched Integrated Logistics Strategies Services for the Gartner Group, building the practice into a leading advisor to major global corporations. Mr. Mesher is a frequent keynote speaker at industry events and academic institutions such as MIT, Penn State and Northwestern. He is also the author of numerous articles and white papers. Descartes’ products and services are used by 2,500 customers in more than 60 countries.
Theo Fletcher is the Vice President of Supply Chain Compliance, Security & Diversity for IBM’s Integrated Supply Chain. In this role, Theo has three primary responsibilities across IBM’s operating units: To establish the relationships and initiatives necessary to ensure the efficient and secure importing of IBM’s goods and services globally; To implement the policies and processes necessary to ensure all IBM suppliers abide by the socially responsible laws of their country; To lead the growth of IBM’s diverse supply base globally, which is currently at $1.6 billion dollars across more than 550 suppliers. Mr. Fletcher joined IBM in 1970, in youngstown, Ohio and has an extensive executive background in finance & planning and procurement. He was Pricing Director for IBM’s Services Business where he and his team were responsible for establishing the financial structure and pricing for IBM’s first outsourcing contract. Later he was named Financial Planning Director for IBM U.S., responsible for establishing the annual and strategic financial plan of IBM’s $25 billion U.S. Business. Mr. Fletcher joined IBM’s Global Procurement organization in 1994 as Director of Financial Planning and Controller. In 2000, he was named Director of Global Sourcing, Services and General Procurement and he was named Vice President of Global procurement operations in 2001, Vice president and Import Compliance Officer in April 2004, and was named to his current position in January 2005.
Mark Morrison is Senior Vice president of TNT Logistics North America. In his role of Senior Vice President of business development at TNT Logistics North America, Mr. Morrison leads the effort to expand the company’s customer base in several key business sectors. These sectors include automotive, tires, electronics, utilities, retail and fast moving consumer goods. Mr. Morrison joined the predecessor of TNT Logistics North America, Customized transportation Inc., in 1993. He served as the company’s senior vice president of operations until transitioning into his current role in 2001. Prior to TNT, Mr. Morrison was senior vice president for two years at Inchape Shipping Services and was with Crowley Maritime for 14 years, most recently serving as vice president of Crowley’s Atlantic Division. He is a member of the Council of Logistics management (now named CSCMP.) Mr. Morrison received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from San Francisco State university.
Nicholas Seiersen, B.Sc.(Hons.), M.B.A., LQ Executive Editor: Mr. Seiersen is a Senior Manager with BearingPoint, based in Toronto, Canada. He specializes in Supply Chain consulting, with particular attention to Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Planning & Operations. Mr. Seiersen is the Canadian lead for Supply Chain at BearingPoint. From strategic sourcing to warehouse layout, from network design & master scheduling to shop floor scheduling and control, Mr. Seiersen has worked with many clients in many industries improve their operations at tactical and operational levels, all the way to advising 3PL strategic forays into new businesses.
Mr. Seiersen holds a B.Sc. (hons.) in biochemistry and an M.B.A. in Industrial management. He teaches executive development courses at top Universities in Europe and North America. He has numerous publications in North America and Europe on ePurchasing, Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Cost-to-serve. He is the past President of the Toronto Roundtable of the Council of Logistics Management, Vice President of French Logistics association ASLOG, member of European Logistics association Business management Committee, and serves on several global journal advisory boards in France.