JOHANNESBURG-BASED Spotco has taken on board a new strategic director, Brian Hickson, to support its national expansion process. As a full equity partner, Hickson brings 15 years of industry experience from within the Fuel Group, initially with RTT and more recently with SOS. With a sales and marketing background, he has the credentials to address the growth of brand awareness and sharpen the focus of the company which has shown unprecedented growth since it opened its doors 12 years ago. “It’s now time to grow strategically as we move the business to the next generation,” says Hickson. Spotco specialises in the handling and management of freight on behalf of freight forwarders. “We draw the cargo from the airport, deliver to the agent who does the customs clearance, and then on-deliver to their customers. As more and more companies choose the outsourcing route, demand for Spotco’s management, co-ordination and planning functions is growing,” says Hickson. The company operates 100 vehicles with diverse configurations on a national basis, and while airfreight is its primary focus, it also provides a full trailer load service for seafreight cargo. Warehousing facilities are available in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Sister company Air Care Cargo (ACC) started as a specialist airfreight handling company, undertaking project work particularly into Africa using specialised charters. “It subsequently branched out into airport consolidations on behalf of couriers on the domestic leg, a market which has also grown exponentially.” One of Hickson’s first priorities will be to grow the company’s skills base with a recruitment drive currently under way to accommodate the new business focus.
