Pullan moves into CSAV hot seat

There’s a new man at the
helm of Durban-based CSAV
Agencies, prepared to take
on the challenges facing the
shipping line in the SA market
on his own home ground.
New GM, Lance Pullan,
was born in the port city of
Durban, and read for his BCom
in marketing and economics
and post-graduate financial
management at what was then
the University of Natal.
He replaces Rogelio Busto,
who has been transferred to
CSAV Malaysia.
Pullan started his shipping
career as a trainee in AP
Moller/Maersk’s international
training scheme (MISE), and
spent time with Safmarine,
Maersk Line and Maersk
Logistics (now Damco).
During that time he
specialised in intermodal
transport and imports
with Maersk; logistics and
operations with the team
involved in the takeover of
P&O Nedlloyd; two years
in Vietnam with Maersk
Logistics; and the last three
years with Damco in SA in
accounts management, then in
key accounts management.
It was a “pretty broad
range of skills”, he told FTW,
and gave him “the battery of
knowledge” which he is now
applying to running the SA
operation of the sea carrier,
CSAV.
Pullan’s goal in his GM role,
he added, is to make CSAV
“more customer-centric”.
“Being on the logistics side
of things,” he said, “we tend to
see shipping as old-fashioned
in its attitude, and not really
relating to what the market
needs.
“Providing more services is
a main focus, and improving
the product range CSAV offers
to its clients.”
Pullan also intends to
take on the challenges these
“tough global trading times”
have placed on the shipping
industry.
“CSAV’s financial stress has
mostly come from the major
east-west trades, and forced us
to rationalise a lot of services,”
he said. “But here in SA we
have been doing OK, and I
mean to keep it that way.
“2012 will be a tough time,
but nothing comes without
hard work anyway.”