J. Edwin “Ed” Conaway, a 22-year transportation veteran, has been named vice president of sales for Con-Way Transportation Services (Con-Way), a wholly owned subsidiary of CNF Inc.
Conaway, 50, will be based at Con-Way’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he will be responsible for sales of more than $2.6 billion delivered annually by Con-Way’s four less-than-truckload operating units, three supply-chain group units and Con-Way Mexico Express. The less-than-truckload companies include Con-Way Central Express, Con-Way Southern Express, Con-Way Western Express and Con-Way Canada Express. The supply-chain group companies are Con-Way Now, Con-Way Air and Con-Way Truckload. He also will be responsible for the Con-Way national account sales team.
“Ed brings a talent, a perspective and a set of experiences to his new job that are unique because he has held several leadership positions in multiple Con-Way companies,” says David S. McClimon, president of Con-Way. “This gives him a very broad perspective and understanding of what needs to be done. Ed’s a leader and an innovator whose focus has always been on the customer. We’re excited to have him as our lead sales person.”
Conaway, who will report to McClimon, grew up in the transportation industry, having worked throughout high school and college in operations positions with his family’s trucking company, Gordons Transports of Memphis, Tenn. He joined Con-Way Western Express (CWX) in 1987 as a service center manager in Sacramento, Calif. and shortly thereafter was promoted to region manager for northern California.
In 1993, he was promoted to vice president of operations for Con-Way Southwest Express. When Con-Way Southwest Express and Con-Way Southern Express (CSE) combined operations under the CSE banner in 1995, Conaway was named vice president of operations, responsible for the less-than-truckload carrier’s service network. In 1997, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of Con-Way Now. In 2000, he was named president and chief executive officer of the organization.
