De Jong to drive FTA policy into post-Brexit world.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA), the UK’s largest and most active membership association in the freight and logistics industry, has appointed Elizabeth de Jong as its new Director of Policy. She will take up her new position on 3 July.

De Jong, who joins FTA from the Rail Delivery Group where she was Director of Policy, is an expert in delivering success in highly complex, high profile industries, a skill which FTA Chief Executive David Wells says will stand her in good stead in her new role:

“Freight and logistics is the unsung hero of British industrial success, an area which is constantly changing and evolving, and the industry will be key to ensuring continued economic growth as the UK leaves the European Union. FTA will have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the sector’s demands are heard in government, and we are thrilled that Elizabeth will be joining us to drive the policy agenda forwards on behalf of our members, in partnership with our experienced team.”

Prior to her role at the Rail Delivery Group, De Jong worked at the Department for Transport for six years in a variety of posts, including the delivery of the UK’s East Coast rail franchise, a politically and economically sensitive role. Other previous positions include work with Mouchel PLC and Stagecoach Group, where she was Head of Retail Development at South West Trains.

FTA represents all modes of the UK’s freight and logistics sector on behalf of its 16,000 members. The UK remains a leader in logistics at a global level, ranked in the top ten countries in terms of logistics performance, and the sector contributes 11% of the UK’s non-financial business economy. In 2016, 2.54 million people were employed in logistics in the UK, approximately 8% of the UK’s workforce.







NOTES TO EDITORS
The Freight Transport Association can trace its origins back to 1889 and is recognised as the voice of the freight and logistics industry, representing the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. FTA members operate over 220,000 goods vehicles - half the UK fleet - consign over 90 per cent of the freight moved by rail and 70 per cent of sea and air freight.