Werner Enterprises announces executive changes


Werner Enterprises, Inc. has announced that the Company’s Board of Directors approved the planned transitions in executive management and a board of director appointment that became effective immediately.

Clarence L. Werner, 78, the Company’s founder, is stepping down from the position of Chief Executive Officer as part of the planned management transition announced in August 2015 and will remain as Executive Chairman of the Company.

Derek J. Leathers, 46, was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer. Leathers was previously President and Chief Operating Officer and has 25 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry with more than 17 years of leadership experience with Werner Enterprises. Throughout his Werner career, Leathers has held executive management roles leading multiple organizational service offerings, including the establishment and development of Werner’s Mexico cross-border operations when he joined the Company in 1999, leadership oversight of the asset-based trucking businesses and development of Werner’s brokerage, freight management, intermodal and global logistics business units. Leathers previously became President of Werner Enterprises in 2011.

Marty Nordlund, 54, was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer having previously held the position of Senior Executive Vice President of Specialized Services. In his new role, Nordlund is expected to have executive operating responsibility for the Company’s trucking and logistics business units. Nordlund has 32 years of truckload industry experience, including over 21 years in positions of increasing responsibilities at Werner. Nordlund joined Werner in 1994 as an account executive and has since led the company’s Specialized Services unit with over 3,700 trucks for the last 20 years.

Jim S. Schelble, 55, was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. Schelble was previously Executive Vice President of Marketing and Driver Resources and in his new role, he is expected to lead Driver Recruiting, Driver School network, Safety, Human Resources, Pricing and Corporate Communications. Schelble joined Werner in 1998 as manager of New Business Development and subsequently assumed increasing responsibilities in the areas of Sales and Marketing, becoming Executive Vice President of Marketing in 2005 and added responsibility for Driver Recruiting in 2015. Schelble has over 30 years of trucking industry experience, including over 17 years at Werner.

Gerald H. Timmerman, 76, was elected as a Company director to fill an open position. Timmerman was previously a director of the Company from 1988 to 2011. Since 1969, Timmerman has been and currently serves as President of Timmerman & Sons Feeding Co., Inc. He has also served as the President of Timmerman Feeding Corporation since 1965. He is also a partner in several other privately held entities that engage in integrated agricultural business operations.

Source: Werner Enterprises