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New management appointments for NRC 

The National Road Carriers (NRC) is making new management appointments as part of a transformation strategy to strengthen its road transport advocacy.

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From left: James Perrin and James Smith and Justin Tighe-Umbers.

The National Road Carriers (NRC) is making new management appointments as part of a transformation strategy to strengthen its road transport advocacy.

Chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says the team is key to the organisation’s success and its ability to serve members into the future. 

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“That means getting our organisation structure, roles and processes set so we deliver our service promise to our members and service partners. 

“Reviewing our leadership structure and investing in marketing capability are the next step in the transformation journey. It’s clear that in order to deliver on our strategy, we need to more delivery capacity in the business,” Tighe-Umbers says. 

As part of the new strategy, James Perrin will take on the role of chief operating officer with a remit to focus on business transformation. He takes over from James Smith who will take on the newly created policy and advocacy general manager position. 

“This enables James Smith and I to focus on executing our strategy, continue growing relationships in Wellington and throughout the country and delivering initiatives the industry needs such as TruckSafe and future fuel transformation,” Tighe-Umbers says. 

Smith’s new role will maximise his industry regulatory, policy and technical expertise. His years with the business have given him a breadth of relationships across the industry which is “second to none” and the policy and advocacy role “formalises the great work he is doing for NRC and the industry”. 

Perrin brings with him extensive senior manager experience in business transformation, startups, building revenue lines, and managing large teams. His diverse experience “provides both the commercial focus from large, complex organisations and the entrepreneurial mindset required in smaller, more dynamic businesses”, Tighe-Umbers says.

“We’re custodians of an 87-year-old organisation with a proud history of serving this industry, through both golden times and tough times.

“We have the opportunity to build this organisation up to meet its true potential. NRC’s partnering with the NZ Trucking Association further extends this reach. With the challenges of a broken roading network, a tight economic environment, and a transition to a low emissions industry, our members and the industry are relying on us to make sure the needs of the road transport industry are not just heard but responded to.

“The strategy is about setting the organisation up to deliver what our members deserve: a consistent service experience, enhanced products and services, and behind them a culture of continuous improvement,” Tighe-Umbers says. 

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