Port of Tyne’s chief executive officer, Andrew Moffat, has been appointed the new Chair of the British Ports’ Association (BPA).
The BPA represents a wide variety of UK ports and organisations and voices their interest to government in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
The association currently represents over 91 member organisations, including many of the UK’s largest ports and terminals.
Moffat’s dedication to the industry and success at the Port of Tyne resulted in his successful selection.
A relative new comer to the shipping industry, Moffat joined the Port of Tyne in 2007, after a longstanding career in mobile telecoms; holding a number of strategic roles at Orange plc and Three mobile.
Despite the transition, Moffat paved a series of successes at the Port of Tyne, transforming the business and seeing year-on-year growth ever since.
Last year this growth was honoured when Port of Tyne was voted North East Business of the Year.
Speaking of his new role, Moffat said “I am delighted to have been elected Chair of the BPA and I have the privilege of taking over at a time when there are many positives about the ports and maritime sector.”
“I’d like to thank our retiring Chairman, Colin Parker of Aberdeen Harbour and pay tribute to his tremendous commitment to the Association.”
Taking over as chair of the BPA having held the vice chair since 2011, Moffat sees a striking contrast between mobile telecoms and the ports and maritime sector, but notes the importance they both hold to the country’s economic stability.
In his opening speech to the association Moffat said, “There are many opportunities where ports can move to a more cohesive cross-industry approach to developing ports policy and profile,” emphasising greater collaboration in the formation of the ports strategic partnership and plans to collaborate with the department of transport, businesses that depend upon ports, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships.
David Whitehead OBE, BPA director was delighted to have Moffat as the new chair of the BPA; “he has been a staunch supporter of the association for many years both as a member and as part of our board.”
