MONDIALE VGL has appointed Justine Smyth as independent director and chair. The company said her appointment would support its next phase of growth in the global freight forwarding sector.

Ms. Smyth is also the chair of Kiwi telco Spark NZ.

Her appointment coincides with the second anniversary of the merger between Mondiale Freight Services and Visa Global Logistics.

Mondiale VGL CEO Ray Meade said it has been a significant two years for the business, with the merger, the acquisition of CAS, and further strategic investments in China, Spain, Germany, and India.

He said Mondiale VGL had transitioned into a global entity, employing more than 1500 staff across 39 offices in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and the US, supported by 1000 agency offices worldwide.

“We are seeing clear evidence of the advantages that the merger and acquisition of CAS has delivered through increased international trade lane access, enhanced technology, and the achievement of the growth milestones we mapped at the outset,” Mr Meade said.

“Our goal was to build a global supply chain operation with its roots in the Asia Pacific region, and we are firmly on the path to achieving that with our strategic position across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and America.”

Mr Meade said the acquisition of CAS enabled the consolidation of Mondiale VGL’s national footprint in Australia while building further scale in the Australasian market.

“CAS has given us valuable access to the highly strategic Defence and eCommerce industry verticals and our Australian customers have benefited from greater access to contested sea and air cargo space,” he said.

Mr Meade said Ms Smyth joining Mondiale VGL to chair the board is an important step forward for our business.

On joining the board Ms Smyth said the opportunities that the merger has created for the business.

“Mondiale VGL has built Oceania’s leading freight forwarder by bringing together two highly experienced industry leaders in the supply chain and logistics sector,” she said.

“This has established solid strategic and financial foundations, with current and expected market dynamics creating further opportunity to scale.”