ABP shakeup puts Copping in regional hot seat.

(From Lloyds List)

Byline: New director sees South Wales as group's 'most challenging' area, writes Karen Thomas

ASSOCIATED British Ports has reshuffled senior management of its five South Wales ports this autumn, following the departure of regional ports director Budha Majumdar, 'for personal reasons'.

Mr Majumdar was replaced as South Wales ports director on September 1 by John Copping, formerly ABP's shortsea shipping director. The move represents a return to Wales for Mr Copping, Mr Majumdar's predecessor as South Wales port director, who managed the ports of Cardiff and Barry from 1999 to 2001.

The change has sparked a reshuffle of ABP's South Wales deputy port directors. Clive Thomas, previously deputy port manager for Cardiff and Barry, is now deputy port manager for Newport. Simon Brett, his predecessor, has been promoted deputy port manager at Grimsby and Immingham.

Callum Couper, previously port manager for ABP Garston and Fleetwood in the north-west, has become deputy port manager for Cardiff and Barry. Only Peter O'Brien, deputy port manager at Port Talbot and Swansea, remains in the job he held a year ago.

ABP's South Wales portfolio comprises the ports of Swansea, Port Talbot, Barry, Cardiff and Newport. Since 2001, the group has turned the five ports into a single, regional business unit, rationalising port activities to cut costs, achieve operating synergies and market the ports.