Peel Ports appoints new chief exec

Peel Ports has confirmed Mark Whitworth, former Peel Airports CEO, as its new chief executive.

Whitworth will take over the permanent running of Peel's entire ports operation, including the major facilities at Port of Liverpool, the Manchester Ship Canal, Clydeport, Medway and Heysham.

Whitworth had been acting in the post since the departure of Stephen Baxter in June.

The company is one of the largest ports operators in Europe with more than 2,500 employees and a turnover of £450m. Over 67 million tonnes of freight a year moves through its facilities.

Whitworth said: "This is an extremely exciting opportunity and one which I am looking forward to enormously. The group's operational strengths are very significant and I'm taking over the post permanently at a time of great opportunity for Peel Ports and its people – with major plans underway such as the post-Panamax River Terminal at Port of Liverpool. The challenge of managing one of the UK's most strategically important companies is one I relish and I'm looking forward to having the chance to complete the job I have begun over the last three months or so."

Whitworth became a member of Peel Group's main board in 2007 and remains so in his new post.

Following an 18 month process, Vancouver Airport Services acquired 65% of Peel Airports in June this year.

Whitworth was managing director of the equipment division of Speedy Hire Centres before joining Peel, where he had responsibility for five limited companies with a combined turnover of £160m and over 1,000 employees, operating across a broad spectrum of market sectors.