Eddie Stobart CEO David Pickering announced on LinkedIn yesterday, 8 January 2025, that he is stepping down after 34 years with the company.
“It is with great pride that I announce my move away from Eddie Stobart, a company to which I have worked for 34 years now; starting as a YTS graduate and finally achieving my early career ambitions of leading the organisation as CEO,” Pickering wrote.
He expressed gratitude for the mentorship and inspiration he received from colleagues and acknowledged the opportunities he had to work with some of the largest clients in the UK and Europe.
“I have learnt so much from some of the leading Supply Chain experts this country has to offer. I would like to thank you all, from colleagues within Eddie Stobart and the wider Culina Group who have shared my journey, to suppliers and clients who have helped shape my career, it’s been an absolute honour to represent this amazing business,” he added.
Pickering’s career trajectory saw him serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) from 1991 to 2021 before assuming the role of CEO. His departure marks the latest in a series of leadership changes at Eddie Stobart and its parent company, Culina Group.
Eddie Stobart has undergone significant transformation in recent years, most notably its acquisition by Culina Group in July 2021. The takeover included GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions, which comprised Eddie Stobart, Stobart Europe, iForce, The Pallet Network, and The Logistics People. The move was aimed at strengthening Culina Group’s position as a market leader in shared-user FMCG logistics services.
Leadership changes at Culina Group have been a focal point in recent months. In March 2024, Thomas van Mourik, the long-standing chief executive of Culina Group, announced his retirement after 30 years, with Ian Smith, then CEO of the chilled business division, slated to take over in October 2024.
Deputy CEO William Stobart also stepped down, transitioning to a non-executive director role on the group board. However, Smith’s tenure as CEO was notably brief, as he left the company less than three months after assuming the position.