Neill & Brown CEO still accelerating down the global road after 50 years in business

Published October 20, 2015

Peter Brown, a prominent businessman in the Hull and Humber region and the third generation of his family at the helm of Neill & Brown Global Logistics, has celebrated 50 years with the company.

In his role as chief executive, Mr Brown is looking forward to the firm’s continued growth following rapid expansion over the last few years, which have seen employee numbers rise from 75 to more than 130, a steep increase in overseas business and major infrastructure developments, including a 60,000sq ft international warehouse at Marfleet Environmental Technology Park in east Hull.

“Even during the recession we made steady progress and now we are prepared for rising demand for our services,” said Mr Brown, who took up his present position in 2013 after being managing director.

“We have a superb team, many of whom have grown with the business. A lot of people here have completed 25 years’ service and some of their family members have followed them into the firm.

“They have put in some outstanding work and I can honestly say that we wouldn’t lose a contract for poor service.”

Beyond the UK and Europe, Neill & Brown – whose headquarters are at Livingstone Road, Hessle – has a growing trade in the Far East, where it runs an office in Hong Kong, and it is also increasing business with the United States and India.

When Mr Brown started out in 1965 his first main job, after being the office boy, was palletising imported Scandinavian timber at the former RAF Catfoss airfield in East Yorkshire for onward distribution.

In a rapid progression to managing director, he then took responsibility for Customs documentation before becoming involved on the caravan transport side.

Mr Brown led the company’s move out of Hull to the Livingstone Road site in 1990, which has proved a strategic location for the Humber ports and national road network, leading to a number of major contracts, such as the joint venture with Nippon Gohsei UK for distribution of their products from a warehouse built at Marfleet in 2011, also occupying 60,000sq ft.

Mr Brown has always believed in Neill & Brown being closely involved in the community – from being the first local business to sign up as a Hull Angel with a £17,000 commitment in support of City of Culture 2017 to backing for business organisations and charities.

The year 2017 also marks Neill & Brown’s centenary – a period that has seen road transport develop from the horse and cart they used at the outset for the timber trade to their modern day fuel efficient, eco-friendly fleet.

Article originally posted on hull.co.uk on 12/10/2015