J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) has appointed Shelley Simpson chief executive officer and president and nominated her for appointment to the company’s Board of Directors, the company announced Thursday. Simpson has served as the company’s president since August 1, 2022.
Simpson's appointment as company chief executive officer and president is effective July 1, and her nomination for election to the Board is set for the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in April.
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"Shelley challenges us to be excellent and innovative and always in pursuit of customer value. She will continue to remain focused on disciplined investments to drive appropriate returns and long-term growth for the benefit of our people, customers and shareholders,” said outgoing chief executive officer John N. Roberts, who will assume the role of executive chairman of the Board upon Kirk Thompson’s retirement from the Board. . “These steps help to ensure the culture and innovative growth mindset that has been so vital to the success of our company remains strong and intact to support the vision and the values of the Company for the foreseeable future.”
Thompson and Wayne Garrison will both retire from the company’s Board of Directors and will take newly formed Board advisory roles as Honorary Founding Directors. The creation of the Honorary Founding Director positions for Thompson, a Director since 1985, and Garrison, a Director since 1981, will help preserve the invaluable experiences these founding executives have to contribute for years to come, according to the company. Thompson joined the company in 1973 and served as president and chief executive officer from 1987 through 2010. Garrison joined the company in 1976, becoming its president in 1982 and chief executive officer in 1985, and served as Chairman of the Board from 1995 to 2010. The changes are part of the company’s succession planning and Board development to support future growth and shareholder confidence.
In January 2024, the Board welcomed Pat Ottensmeyer, former chief executive officer and president of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, as a newly appointed independent director, following the addition of two other independent Directors in recent years, Thad Hill and Persio Lisboa.
“I am so happy to know Kirk and Wayne will remain involved as advisors beyond their service as directors, and I am excited to congratulate John and Shelley on their new leadership roles,” said J.B. Hunt co-founder Johnelle Hunt. “I care deeply about the long-term success of the company, and these changes give me great confidence in the company’s ability to continue to prosper well into the future.”
Simpson’s career at J.B. Hunt spans nearly three decades. She helped found Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) in 2007 and was named president of the business unit. She assumed sales and marketing executive responsibilities in 2011 as chief marketing officer and took on additional leadership roles in 2014 when she was named president of J.B. Hunt’s Truckload business segment. She was named chief commercial officer and president of Highway Services in 2017 and led the strategic direction and launch of the J.B. Hunt 360° platform. Simpson added responsibilities for people and human resources in 2020 and was named president in 2022.
“J.B. Hunt is recognized as a leader in the transportation industry. We’re known for our highly talented and experienced people, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the very best,” said Simpson. “Kirk, Wayne and John are not only great leaders, but they understand the importance of building great leaders, and how that creates stability, opportunities for growth and ultimately drives long-term success for a company. They’ve grown a culture of integrity and respect, of innovation, safety and excellence, and I am profoundly grateful for the impact they’ve had and will continue to have on the company.”
