INTERVIEW: Kevin Buchanan, Pall-Ex

The group managing director of Hilary Devey’s Pall-Ex talks to TheBusinessDesk.com about the company’s expansion plans and the skills crisis facing the logistics industry.

How did you start your career?
I left school and decided not to go to university, and spent 14 years working in Canada. I ran my own softplay centres before joining Palletline in 2007 where I worked as managing director, before joining Pall-Ex as group managing director in November 2014.

To what do you attribute your success?
Hard work. I’ve realised that clever people aren’t always the most successful, but if you work hard then and you’re passionate about what you do, then you give yourself the best chance to succeed. Hilary [Devey – the owner of Pall-Ex] is testament to that. She’s still got her hand on the tiller, and I speak to her every day.

Is the government doing enough to help your business?
The Govermment is doing okay. We’re benefiting from a balanced economy when the rest of the European economy is slowing down. Even the economies that have been booming over the past decade such as China and India are slowing down to around 4-5 per cent growth. So, I think they’re doing a decent job.

We are, however, suffering from a lack of investment into our industry. We’re simply not attracting enough young people into logistics, and we must remember that the sector is very important to the East Midlands economy; we’re at the centre of the industry. The fact is that the government hasn’t properly supported our industry since the Second World War, and the harsh fact of the matter is that people are leaving the profession. We need to reverse that – and fast.

What’s next for Pall-Ex?
We’re looking at aggressive expansion. We’ll be opening in Bulgaria, Benelux, Hungary and Poland. We’re also looking towards Scandinavia and Germany. We want a pan-European network, but we’re also considering India, Australia and South Africa.

Out of office…
Age: 51
Family: Divorced with four kids
Hobbies: I used to play golf, but now I like walking, cooking and skiing.
Favourite film: I like films based on real-life events. Schindler’s List would be up there.
Favourite book: Silver Sword
Tell me something random about yourself: I don’t take myself too seriously. I play classical guitar.
How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? 3
What’s your favourite restaurant: The Thai Rainbow in Lichfield