In a strategic move, World Group, known for its industry-leading portfolio of global logistics and supply chain brands, is proud to announce a transformation in its leadership structure, setting the stage for the next phase of growth. The company, which was founded over 60 years ago as World Shipping, Inc., has appointed Joey Palmer and Duncan Wright as Co-CEOs. This leadership transition is coupled with the transition of Fred Hunger from his role as CEO to that of Executive Chairman, while ensuring that Palmer and Wright will continue to serve as presidents of World Group’s flagship brands—ContainerPort Group (CPG®), UWL, Inc., and World Distribution Services (WDS)—respectively, thereby maintaining their brands' unique and standalone service offerings.
Fred Hunger, son of Jack E. Hunger, founder of World Shipping, Inc., has been pivotal in the company's growth and strategic expansion through the years. “Stepping into the Executive Chairman role, I am ready and excited to see Joey and Duncan take the lead. It is certainly unique, the Co-CEO setup, but we have done our homework. Turns out, it is not as rare as you would think, and it works. Joey and Duncan are a great match – they complement each other’s strengths. It is the right move for our future, setting us up for greater success across our portfolio of brands,” Hunger stated.
In his capacity at World Distribution Services, Wright oversees a Top-100 3PL known for delivering customized port-centric logistics solutions, including warehousing and distribution in key markets. Under his leadership, the organization has grown its footprint in Savannah, New York, and the Pacific Northwest.
"The opportunity to lead World Group into its next chapter alongside Joey is not only a privilege but an exciting challenge. The decision to have Co-CEOs reflects a strategic move to provide consistent leadership across World Group’s portfolio without merging our brands into a single entity. No one knows our people, products, and customers’ needs better than Joey and me, and we look forward to harnessing our combined leadership strengths to ensure our brands continue as market leaders within their respective part of the supply chain," Wright commented. "Together, we aim to elevate our global service reach and position our clients and our teams for improved opportunities and growth.”
“In my tenure at CPG, we have become a household name in ocean container drayage. As we step into leadership roles within our parent company World Group, Duncan and I are committed to keeping our focus on our brands’ strengths—CPG’s expertise in trucking, World Distribution Services’ (WDS) warehousing and distribution capabilities, and UWL’s NVOCC and freight forwarding excellence. Our next step is about elevating the opportunities we deliver to our clients while maintaining the unique identity and value each brand contributes,” Joey Palmer stated.
World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, they are home to a portfolio of trusted brands that deliver end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, backed by innovative technology to provide visibility and data like never before. With industry-leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding and air freight, customs house brokerage, vessel husbandry, and warehousing and distribution, customers around the globe use the services of ContainerPort Group, UWL, World Distribution Services, Pacific Cascade, and World Shipping to simplify supply chains and reliably move freight. Learn more at www.worldgrouplogistics.com.
For More Information:
Allison Lipinski, World Group
Allison.lipinski@worldgrouplogistics.com
www.worldgrouplogistics.com