Will Whitehorn FCILT FRAeS FMS, Director, Stagecoach Group Plc and Chairman, Transport Systems Catapult, is to become the next President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in the UK. He will take up the one-year presidency from Beverley Bell FCILT when she passes the honour at an inauguration lunch to be held in London on 20th May.
Will is a Fellow of the Institute and has been a Vice-President for the past four years. He is a leading figure in the transport sector and has worked in the profession all of his working life.
Commenting on his appointment, Will said: ‘It is a great honour to have been appointed President of CILT in the UK. I am thrilled to represent the profession at such a momentous period of technological change that is currently sweeping through every aspect of our activities. We are on a rapid curve towards artificial intelligence and autonomous systems transforming the future of transport and logistics; this change will require an increasing emphasis on new skills and qualifications.’
Commenting on Will’s appointment, CILT’s outgoing President, Beverley Bell FCILT said: ‘I am delighted that Will Whitehorn has accepted our invitation to become the Institute’s President-Elect. He is an extremely well-liked and well-respected professional and his experience and expertise will ensure the Institute is at the forefront of the latest developments in our industry.’
Will learnt to fly at the age of 16 as an RAF cadet and soon after studied History and Economics at Aberdeen University. He began his transport career working for British Airways as a helicopter crewman in the North Sea oil industry. He then became a graduate trainee with Thomas Cook.
He went on to work for Virgin Group for 25 years. Here he helped establish Virgin Atlantic on the global stage before spearheading Virgin's move into rail. He was a founding director of London and Continental Railways and went on to lead Virgin’s bid for the West Coast Mainline franchise. In 2004 Will became President of Virgin Galactic, a spaceflight company within the Virgin Group, overseeing the construction of the world’s first commercial spaceship.
Commenting on Will’s appointment, Kevin Richardson FCILT, Chief Executive, CILT said: ‘The appointment of Will Whitehorn as CILT President-Elect brings expertise, innovation and a wealth of experience to our Institute. I look forward to working with him to grow our Institute when he takes up his appointment in May.’
As well as holding several non-executive roles outside the industry Will is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and The Marketing Society.