Chris Lewin has been an influential figure in the development of LV UK and our global network. He joined the company in 1986 as the manager of LV’s Middlesbrough office. He was appointed as a director of the company in 1996, as managing director in 2000 and as chairman of the LV group in 2018.
His successors as managing directors have been long serving within LV. Lee Woolams joined the company in 2002. He has been fulfilling a senior managerial role with a focus on group wide finance. Andy Willis-Betts joined LV in 2011. He has been fulfilling a senior managerial and leadership role regionally and a particular responsibility for deep-sea shipping and customs.
Chris Lewin: “I feel this is the right time to step down and let younger people take over my role. I am now 71, it is time for the next generation to lead LV UK. I naturally feel a bit melancholic after all this time, but I am confident that the company is in good hands with Andy and Lee. In the background, I will of course remain available to Andy and Lee as an advisor. In addition, I will remain chairman of the Global Executive Board, so it is not a farewell to the organisation. I will focus fully on my global role and responsibility.”
“I am proud that under my leadership LV UK has grown into a full-service logistics provider with multiple offices in the UK and overseas successfully operating in the global marketplace. However, I have not achieved this alone, everyone within LV has played a part in this and I am grateful to everyone for that.”
“I personally consider the appointment of Andy and Lee as my successors a no-brainer. They have a lot of experience as members of the UK board and are very knowledgeable about logistics and transport. Lee also has a lot of financial knowledge. Shared responsibility is very common these days and I think that with Lee and Andy, our organisation brings in an ideal duo. They understand the business and our culture, know each other well, have been working closely together for years and are on the same wavelength on many issues. They are also complementary to each other. With Lee and Andy at the helm, LV is surely ready for the future. They will proudly carry the LV UK banner on to bigger and better things and I wish everyone continued success”
Lee Woolams: “I feel privileged to follow in Chris’s footsteps, together with Andy. My ambition is to ensure LV UK remains successful and as a leading pillar within the LV group continues to contribute significantly to the continued growth. As a keen sportsman, teamwork and a competitive nature is in my heart and with that attitude I want to take LV forward, together with Andy. To do this, we need the support and backing of everyone within LV UK. I’m passionate about developing key staff members to keep our organisation successful and future-proof. I am really looking forward to this new challenge and I would like to thank Chris and everyone within LV for their trust.”
Andy Willis-Betts: “I feel genuinely privileged to have the opportunity to join Lee in continuing Chris’ work and contribute to the further growth of LV UK. For me, it is important that we stick to family values despite the growth of our organisation in the UK and worldwide. It is also crucial that we continue to invest in the quality and well-being of our people. After all, they are our company’s biggest assets. I have great confidence in working with Lee. We know each other well and together we stand for openness, honesty and transparency in everything we do. Needless to say, we will rely on Chris’ years of knowledge and experience in the future. I would also like to thank him for everything he has done for LV UK over the years and what he has achieved. Lee and I have enormous respect for that and together we will do everything we can to ensure LV UK remains successful.”