Keith Newton is new Secretary General for CILT International

Kraft Foods senior Logistics Director, Keith Newton, has been appointed Secretary General of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International. 

He takes up the position from 1 May 2012 in succession to Interim Secretary General, Colm Holmes, who steps down from the role at the end of March.  Newton will lead the continuing development and growth of the Institute on a global basis.

The international movement is represented in the United Kingdom by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) based at Corby, Northants.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is a worldwide organisation with an established international pedigree. With over 33,000 members, working in over 100 countries, CILT spans the globe. The organisation provides significant benefits to its membership of transport and supply chain professionals, including a complete suite of educational courses delivered internationally.

Keith Newton’s appointment follows the work completed by the Trustees of CILT International in 2011 which redefined the leadership and management structure of the organisation.

Newton is currently Logistics Operations Director, UK, Ireland and Nordics, for Kraft Foods Europe.  Prior to the Kraft acquisition in 2010, he joined the Cadbury organisation in 1992 and held a number of supply chain appointments across logistics and manufacturing.  These included leading logistics best practice globally between 2002 and 2005 and being the Supply Director for Cadbury Ireland.

At the time of the 2010 acquisition, he was Cadbury’s Customer Logistics Director in the UK and Ireland, and has since worked actively on the programme of integrating the two businesses.  He has been an Institute member for 30 years and is an executive member of CILT’s Leaders in Supply Chain.

Keith Newton will be supported by the recent appointments of Jon Harris to the new role of International Professional Development Co-ordinator and Ceri Williams as the new International Administration Co-ordinator.

Jon Harris has wide experience at a senior level for over 20 years in town and transport planning.  He also worked as CILT (UK) Director of Policies and Technical Affairs from 2000 to 2002.  He takes up his appointment from 1 April.

Alan Waller OBE, President, CILT International, said: “We are pleased that Keith was available for the role. He will bring a wealth of supply chain knowledge and this will be balanced by the passenger and freight transport experience of Jon Harris. These appointments complete the Leadership Team organisation for CILT International and will help us grow the Institute over its next phase.”