Chris Welsh retires from UK's Freight Transport Association

April 04, 2018: Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) director of Global and European Policy Chris Welsh will be retiring at the end of May this year.

During his 36 years tenure with FTA, he advanced the interests of importers and exporters (shippers) in their dealings with the world’s shipping lines and airlines.

Earlier in his career, Chris held the role of secretary general of the European Shippers’ Council from 1996 to 2002. In addition to his current FTA duties as director of Global and European Policy, he is also the secretary general of the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) that provides a platform for shippers’ views to be heard by the global regulatory bodies. The GSF’s annual meeting in Melbourne on May 8-11 will mark Chris’s final commitment to the organisation that he has run since its formation in 2011.

With the agreement of the Board of the Global Shippers’ Forum, FTA’s Deputy chief executive James Hookham will take over responsibilities for running the GSF from June 1, 2018. James will also take direct responsibility for the global and European policy team at FTA.

David Wells, FTA’s chief executive said: “Chris Welsh has been a tireless advocate for the needs and interests of businesses managing sea freight and air cargo contracts for over 30 years, and I thank him for advancing FTA members’ interests in these modes of transport. His award of an MBE in 2015 recognises the contribution he has made to keeping British, European and global supply chains safe, competitive and sustainable. I am grateful for the service he has given to FTA over a long and successful career, and wish him an active and happy retirement.”