After nine years as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Knight-Swift Transportation (CCJ Top 250, No. 5) board of directors, and 13 years as company president, Dave Jackson is stepping down, the company announced Tuesday.
Adam Miller, who had been serving as Chief Financial Officer and President of Swift Transportation, has been named Chief Executive Officer. Andrew Hess has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Hess had been serving as Senior Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions and Senior Vice President of Finance for Swift Transportation.
“After nearly 24 years at Knight-Swift, it is time for a change and for the next generation to take the baton," Jackson said via statement. "Adam and Andrew are ready, the timing is right, the company is well positioned, and they have my full support. I look forward to my next chapter and to continuing to make a difference in the community.”
Executive Chairman Kevin P. Knight expressed his gratitude to Jackson who he said, over the past nine years, oversaw "a period that has been transformational for the company and rewarding for our stockholders. Dave will always be part of the Knight-Swift family, and we wish him all the best.”
[Related: Knight-Swift's AAA Cooper acquisition 'transformational']
Miller called being tasked with leading Knight-Swift "an honor... and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Across our entire enterprise, I believe we have the best team of driving and non-driving associates in the business, great customers, and all the resources we need to continue as an industry leader. Together with Andrew and the rest of the team, we will be intently focused on expanding our LTL footprint, improving consolidated margins, and generating free cash flow and stockholder returns.”
Knight said broad strategic, financial and operating experience during a 22-year career at Knight-Swift has prepared Miller for the role of CEO, adding that during his tenure, "he played leading roles in establishing Knight Refrigerated as a major player in its market, integrating Swift after the merger and improving its operations, service and profitability, while overseeing our capital structure and financial performance as Chief Financial Officer. This experience, combined with Adam’s humble yet confident personality and inclusive leadership style, make him widely respected inside and outside of our organization.”
Hess has been with Knight-Swift for five years and led its M&A activities over the last three years, playing a critical role in completion of the AAA Cooper, MME, and U.S. Xpress acquisitions. "Andrew understands our enterprise, and his recent role as Swift’s SVP of Finance has given him a deep dive into the revenue and cost drivers of our business," Knight said. "Moreover, his previous experience at Honeywell provided a wide range of financial and capital allocation experiences. We are excited about the future under our new leadership.”
