Robert J Montague CBE
Aged 60, Executive Chairman
Robert joined the board in December 2003 when the Group was formed. He is responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, and growth of the group. Robert has over 30 years experience in the transport industry. After spending 5 years with Esso, he joined his family's transportation business, and seeing the growth opportunities in containerisation and logistics, left in 1978 to set up Tiphook plc. In September 1995 Robert established Axis to take advantage of the growing market for swapbodies as an alternative to road transport in central Europe and has overseen Axis' growth to date.
Ernie Clemson
Aged 65, Managing Director UK
Ernie joined the board in December 2003 when the Group was formed and is now Managing Director of Axis Intermodal (UK) Ltd. Ernie has extensive knowledge and experience of the contract hire sector having worked at a senior level in the industry for the last 30 years. He was involved in pioneering the trailer rental concept through his 6 year involvement with Gelco Corporation and in 1978 he set up his own company, Trec Rentals Limited which was sold to Central Trailer Rental Group plc in 1982. Ernie remained with Central Trailer Rental Group plc and, following its acquisition by Tiphook plc, became managing director of Central Trailer Rental Group plc in 1983. In this role, he was responsible for growing the business to become market leader in the trailer rental sector. He left Tiphook plc in 1991, and set up Northbank Asset Management Limited, a company that acts as adviser to banks and finance houses on residual values of commercial vehicles.
Stephen Ball
Aged 54, Group Finance Director
Stephen joined the board in February 2004 and is responsible for overseeing the group's finance and administrative functions. He is a Chartered Accountant having trained with Coopers & Lybrand, qualifying in 1977. In the same year, he joined Reads & Co in Guernsey (which became part of BDO International in 1991) becoming a partner in 1982, specialising in fiduciary services. In 1995 Stephen left and formed the Sphere group of companies, which provides fiduciary services and consultancy advice to small and medium sized companies.
Heiner Mangels
Aged 50, Managing Director Germany
Heiner joined the plc board on 1st January 2007. Heiner is Managing Director of Axis Intermodal Deutschland GmbH, the Group's Cologne based swapbody contract hire company. Heiner has many years of international experience working with medium to large companies within or associated with the transport and logistics sector. He previously worked in a senior sales position with Schmitz-Anhanger and has developed export markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Nick Smith
Aged 59, Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
Nick joined the Board in May 2005. He is responsible for all Group legal and regulatory matters and is the Company Secretary of Axis Intermodal plc. Nick is a qualified solicitor and barrister and has extensive experience of working in the transport industry. From 1984 to 1994 Nick acted as Legal Director and Company Secretary for Tiphook plc where he oversaw the listing of that company on four stock exchanges as well as numerous acquisitions, including the bid for Sea Containers. Since 1994 he has held several senior positions including Director of Legal Affairs of Laporte plc. Nick is currently a non executive director of Unitas International Limited. He is also a Governor and Chairman of the Grants Committee, Sports Aid London.
George Canvin
Aged 67, Non Executive Director
George joined the board in March 2004. He is also a member of the remuneration and audit committees. George has had a long career in financial management within the container shipping and transportation industry. From 1971 to 1978, George worked in a senior financial position for Blue Star Ship Management and New England Express Line, subsidiaries of Blue Star Shipping Limited, owners and operators of container ships. From 1978 to 1999 George acted as Group Financial Director of Contship Holding NV, assisting in its growth and subsequent sale of its shipping division to CP Ships Limited. Since 1999 George has worked as a financial consultant for a number of companies within the transport sector.
Stephen Dexter
Aged 61, Non Executive Director
Stephen joined the board in May 2008. He is Chairman of the audit committee and a member of the remuneration committee. Stephen was a partner in Grant Thornton for many years before retiring in June 2007. He was an audit partner and active in the flotation of companies into the AIM market. He has also been active, currently and in the past, as a Non Executive Director or equivalent in both the public and private sector, including Oxford Brookes University, Central Laboratories Research Council, Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust and Abingdon and Witney College. He is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Director.