Who we are
NOVUS is a not-for-profit organisation operating under the umbrella of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT (UK)). CILT (UK) is the membership organisation for professionals involved in the movement of goods and people and their associated supply chains. NOVUS is entirely funded by subscriptions paid by its sponsor organisations. NOVUS is managed by a steering committee, who contribute their time and expertise to the scheme without charge, and a paid Operations Manager at CILT (UK).
- Andy Kaye
Chair of NOVUS and Chief Executive of Bis Henderson Group
Connect on LinkedInAndy is a graduate in Business Studies and Marketing. He joined NFC as a management trainee and undertook a number of roles with NFC and Excel before joining the Storehouse Group. At Storehouse, he implemented the strategy to merge the supply chains of BhS and Mothercare and launched the fulfillment solution for Mothercare.com. His career at Storehouse culminated in his appointment as Director of Logistics. Following the sale of BhS, Andy was briefly involved in a dot.com start up, prior to founding BiS Henderson in 2000. Andy is passionate about developing and inspiring young talent in the profession, and founded NOVUS in 2012.
- Bethany Fovargue
Operations Manager, NOVUS
Connect on LinkedInBethany joined NOVUS in early 2017, as Operations Manager. As Operations Manager, Bethany is responsible for maintaining links between students, sponsors and universities, ensuring that the promotion of NOVUS is inspiring and that the provided programme of mentoring, placements and work experience is both efficient and effective. Bethany has combined her passion for education, as a former teacher, with her love of the logistics profession, in NOVUS, believing that logistics should be a preferred profession. A member of CILT since 2014, Bethany has been a passionate advocate of young professionals in logistics, as well as of increasing diversity in the profession, as a member of the Women in Logistics steering committee.
- David Leach
NOVUS Programme Director and Senior Teaching Fellow, Aston University
Connect on LinkedInAs well as responsibility for co-ordinating the academic aspects of the NOVUS course, David’s role is to work with NOVUS and its fantastic range of sponsors to ensure that the programme provides students with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to succeed in the logistics and supply chain industry. Before joining Aston University, David spent 12 years at University of Huddersfield and 15 years working in the logistics sector, where he experienced, first-hand, the excellent career opportunities available to logistics graduates.
- Chris Chaplin
Director, C Logistics Solutions
Connect on LinkedInHaving worked for blue chip companies such as BOC, EXEL Logistics, Sainsbury’s, Gap and Premier Foods, Chris is now the Director of a niche consultanct, specialising in program implementations. With a particular focus on automation and systems integration, Chris helps clients such as M&S and Howdens with supply chain transformation projects. Having started a personal journey of development and understanding, he is keen to ensure that careers within the supply chain are seen as real opportunities for those leaving school.
- Richard Atkinson CBE
Teaching Fellow, Aston University
Connect on LinkedInRichard is a Teaching Fellow at Aston University, specialising in leadership on their suite of Masters courses. Previously, Richard has served in the Royal Air Force. He has directed media and communications for the RAF and, as a former commander of combat forces, Richard has a healthy regard for the criticality of logistics and transport to success.
- John Day
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader, University of Derby
Connect on LinkedInJohn joined The University of Derby in January 2012, after spending the previous 25 years working at senior management level in the logistics sector. He has worked for companies including Parceline, Geodis, where he was General Manager of the Fortec Pallet Network, and Home Delivery Network.
He has an MBA from Loughborough University, as well as being a fellow of the Higher Education Authority (HEA). John is passionate about changing the nature of logistics from an industry that people fall into to a career of choice, which was the driving force behind his move into academia.
His research interests focus mainly around vehicle utilisation.
- Dr Richard Farr
Lecturer in Logistics, University of Hull
Connect on LinkedInRichard joined Hull University Business School in February 2018. Previously, he was programme leader for Supply Chain Management at the University of Bolton for five years. He also worked in research and teaching at the University of Nottingham from 1999. Richard’s industrial experience relates to aerospace, machine tools and electronics manufacturing. He first saw the supply network from the ‘other side’ working for HM Customs & Excise. His academic research interests address sustainable manufacturing and logistics, plus innovation in teaching.
- Chris Kingshott
Strategic Programmes Director, Kuehne + Nagel
Connect on LinkedInChris has over 30 years’ experience in the supply chain industry at senior management and executive positions with BOC, Wincanton and Kuehne + Nagel. Having successfully led manufacturing and industrial as Managing Director at Wincanton for many years, with acquisitions and growth in the defence and construction sectors, industrial transportation, FMCG, petrochemical and shared use warehouse operations, Chris has recently taken his role with K+N to develop their UK business and growth strategy.
- Chris Fenton
Managing Director Industrial and Transport, Wincanton
Connect on LinkedInChris began his Wincanton career as an industrial placement student at the company’s Corby shared user site. As an International Transport graduate from Cardiff University, with an MBA from the University of Warwick, Chris has a unique understanding of the graduate journey within the profession the result of his own career development and progression within Wincanton. Following eight years as a General Manager, overseeing a number of customer contracts in different verticals, Chris moved on to a role leading the Wincanton change management function with responsibility for new business implementation and continuous improvement programmes. More recently, Chris took up the role of Operations Director for Manufacturing, before undertaking his current post as Managing Director Industrial and Transport.
- Nick Smart
Operations Director, Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics
Connect on LinkedInNick has over 30 years’ experience in logistics, having started in the transport office at the United Biscuits Gloucester depot as a management trainee in 1984, before spending 15 years at Wincanton in various depot and general management roles. In 2004, Nick Joined Brakes Foodservice as Regional Operations Director. Nick joined Muller Milk and Ingredients in 2014 as Logistics Director and led the outbound logistics integration of the Dairy Crest acquisition during 2016. Nick left Muller in the summer of 2017 and is now Operations Director at Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics.
- Neil McConchie
Managing Director and Founder, Lloyd FraserNeil left a position of Divisional Director with Tesco and founded the business in 1987 with the benefit of a two-year BWS distribution contract from Asda, located in aircraft hangers on the old Bitteswell Airdrome, near Lutterworth. The location blossomed into Magna Park, and has become one of the focal logistical locations in the UK. He has extensive experience with both in-house and third party operations. Currently the Executive Chairman and Managing Director of the Group, he leads the Divisional Board and has overall strategic responsibility.
- Ted Johnson
Former HR Director, Clipper Logistics
Connect on LinkedInTed has over 30 years of experience, including 13 in the logistics sector. Following graduation from Aston University, Ted started his career as a graduate trainee in the brewing industry. He later progressed to Human Resources Director with Crown Wallpaper, before moving into logistics. As HR Director with Clipper Logistics, a founding sponsor company of NOVUS, Ted was a passionate supporter from its inception. Having now taken early retirement, Ted is giving back to the sector as a volunteer, helping NOVUS with career coaching, mentoring and presenting guest lectures.
- Andrew Potter
Professor at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University and Deputy Head of Section (Learning and Teaching) for the Logistics and Operations Management sectionAndrew is an author of over 40 journal papers and book chapters, his research interests are in the areas of transport and logistics, and particularly in how freight transport can be more effectively integrated within supply chains, through process, people and technology based approaches. Andrew is also the Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Cymru-Wales and a regular media commentator on transport related issues in Wales.
- Christine Jordan
NOVUS Course Leader, University of Huddersfield
Connect on LinkedInChristine’s role involves working closely with students to ensure they have a high quality learning experience, through industry-relevant taught sessions and activities supported by our fantastic NOVUS sponsors. The students have some amazing opportunities to work with NOVUS companies during their studies, allowing them to enhance workplace knowledge and skills, preparing them for graduate roles within the field of logistics and supply chain management. Prior to her current role, Christine was responsible for the Undergraduate suite of courses in Transport and Logistics, and has been lecturing at the University of Huddersfield for 17 years.