Takeover of Industry Group and Industry First

Cargonews Asia

Bangkok

March 10, 2008

In a move that appears to be a freight forwarding industry first, AerOceaNetwork (AON) has acquired the younger Worldwide Projects Network (WLN).

"We see this as a natural progression," said Dennis McGibbon, former director of WLN and now director of sales at AON. "The two networks have worked together in the past. There was sort of a strategic alliance already in place for the past two years with several members of both groups having experience of working together already. By taking the next step and combining our membership we are a much, much stronger group overall."

McGibbon noted that before the merger both groups had more than 100 offices each, with AON being the older and larger network. Since the merger the new AON has over 230 member offices in major international markets.

"The rubber has hit the road, so to speak," said McGibbon, "When we put the two groups of members together AON had been very cohesive in a very positive way. For example, the old AON had a member in Jordan but not Lebanon. The old WLN had a member in Lebanon but not Jordan. This has helped freight forwarders in both groups get better coverage all over the world. This is very important to independent freight forwarders."

McGibbon himself is a veteran of the freight forwarding network industry, having been with three well-known groups. He cut his teeth with the World Cargo Alliance, where he was eventually elevated to vice-president of sales and marketing. He later, with partners, founded the Worldwide Logistics Network in 2006 and he is now taking the reins from the director of marketing and customer service at AerOceaNetwork.

"I for one am really looking at the challenge of building AON over the long-term future. This merger is only one step in a broader plan," said McGibbon, "The international freight forwarding industry is a very dynamic one and therefore we who serve these companies through the independent freight networks have to be just as dynamic, if not more so. I think at AON we are showing our renewed commitment to take the larger strides and stay ahead of the pack."
 

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