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Category: News VSL SiloLogistics
'From diamond in the rough to sparkling gem'.
Some three years after VSL SiloLogistics started out as independent logistic services provider, the company initiated this spring a new phase on the long and at times bumpy road to: a healthy, profitable company ready to take advantage of growth opportunities and benefit from its existing impressive assets. 'This company has huge potential', says Pieter de Graeff, who takes up his leadership role after a turbulent spring for Management.
'Lots of aspects at VSL are eminently sound, something I have personally witnessed at the sites. Our people, sites and procedures are sound, and our financial resources are sound with shareholders prepared to invest in sound projects. As yet VSL is a diamond in the rough but when sites, head office and shareholders work as one towards the same goals then we will create a sparkling gem in no time. It will be a challenge, but I am up for it!'
Van Ommeren and LBC
Pieter has a long track record in the world of logistic services. His focus has been consistently on liquid bulk products. He was with Van Ommeren and Van Ommeren subsidiary Gamatex in Antwerp from 1986 to 1999, after which he joined LBC. During his Van Ommeren traineeship Pieter familiarized himself thoroughly with all facets of operations at a logistic services provider, laying the basis for further personal development at Van Ommeren and LBC and accepting positions with increasingly more responsibilities.
'I started at LBC as commercial manager for the Antwerp terminal where I gained broad experience in winning new projects and accounts. I was also part of the process to redirect the company’s marketing effort from a reactive to a proactive one. In 2004 I was appointed managing director of the LBC terminal in Rotterdam and some months later Director North-Europe responsible for the three terminals in the Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. This included one terminal with "dedicated" operations for one account, like we have at VSL. In this period the company was acquired by private equity owners, a type of shareholder that we as Management Team found it a pleasure to work with.’
Towards independence
‘Liquid bulk obviously is different from the solid, chemical bulk products at VSL; and food/feed is totally new for me. Still, the logistics concept is largely the same and many processes at VSL are comparable with the processes I was managing previously. My commercial background, my network and experiences with private equity and with customer dedicated terminals: these aspects are the added value that I bring to VSL, and the reason I was hired!’
The father of three children ages 17, 16 and 10 admits that this job at VSL will prove quite a challenge, but he does not shy away from it. 'Many aspects inspire confidence. Take the profound engagement displayed by all people I speak with at the sites, or the return to this company of Jos Lenaerts as new Site Manager in Lillo, or the open and constructive manner in which account representatives engage with me as the new CEO of VSL, seeking win-win situations. All these things make me confident of the future and give me energy!’
July 2011