RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif., March 29, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- UTi Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:UTIW) today announced the extension of the company's new organizational structure, realigning its Asia Pacific region around the integrated areas of client solutions and solutions delivery, with three newly created positions in the region.
Additionally, the company announced the promotions of John Hextall to executive vice president, global leader of client solutions and delivery, and Gene Ochi to executive vice president, global leader of client solutions development, further incorporating the integrated approach to UTi's executive level management. Both Hextall and Ochi are part of the founding shareholder management team of UTi. With their expanded responsibilities, both of them will provide executive leadership to UTi's evolving organization. They will continue to report to Roger MacFarlane, chief executive officer of UTi Worldwide.
"Following the organizational realignment in the Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMENA) region, the realignment of our management structure in the Asia Pacific region and the promotions of our newest executive vice presidents underscore UTi's focus and commitment to client solution development and operational excellence," said MacFarlane. "We believe this integrated approach better enables our global, regional and local teams to become even more engaged with and support our clients. Furthermore, it simplifies the reporting structure and cultivates a team environment that will best support our client's global supply chain needs."
As part of the realignment, Glenn Mills was named president of client solutions for the Asia Pacific region and he will lead the regional teams focused on developing solutions for UTi's global and regional strategic clients operating in Asia Pacific. All directors of client solutions and consultants in the Asia Pacific region will report directly to Mills. He will also provide leadership and support for all local sales teams in Asia Pacific.
As with the EMENA region, this team will be complemented by the solutions delivery team responsible for ensuring that the company implements and delivers these supply chain solutions to UTi's clients at the operations level. David Cheng, as president of Greater China, will head the solutions delivery team in this vast emerging market, and all operating and functional teams there will continue to report directly to him. For the balance of UTi's Asia Pacific region, the solutions delivery team will be led by Brian Dangerfield, whose new position will be president of solutions delivery for Asia Pacific. The operating and functional teams in Asia Pacific, as well as the sub-regions and countries, excluding Greater China, will report directly to Dangerfield.
With their promotions and their expanded responsibilities, Mills, Cheng and Dangerfield will report directly to Alan Draper, executive vice president and president of UTi's Asia Pacific region.
About UTi Worldwide
UTi Worldwide Inc. is an international, non-asset based global integrated logistics company providing air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage, distribution, inbound logistics, truckload brokerage and other supply chain management services. The company serves a large and diverse base of global and local companies, including customers operating in industries with unique supply chain requirements such as the pharmaceutical, retail, apparel, chemical, automotive and technology industries. The company seeks to use its global network, proprietary information technology systems, relationships with transportation providers and expertise in outsourced logistics services to deliver competitive advantage to each of its customers' global supply chains.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this news release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company intends that all such statements be subject to the "safe-harbor" provisions contained in those sections. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, the company's discussion of its focus on and ability to meet customers' needs; its ability to become even more engaged with customers with the realigned management structure in the Asia Pacific region; its ability to cultivate teams that are integrated to support its customers' needs and other statements which are not historical facts. Many important factors may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statements, including increased competition; integration risks associated with acquisitions; the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates; changes in the company's effective tax rates; industry consolidation making it more difficult to compete against larger companies; general economic, political and market conditions, including inventory build-ups, economic slowdowns and declines in consumer confidence; declines in world trade; work stoppages or slowdowns or other material interruptions in transportation services; risks of international operations; the success and effects of new strategies, disruptions caused by conflicts, wars and terrorism; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although UTi believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by UTi or any other person that UTi's objectives or plans will be achieved. UTi undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.