Horizon Lines restructuring with separate shipping, logistics arms

Horizon Lines restructuring with separate shipping, logistics arms U.S. Jones Act carrier Horizon Lines Inc. is embarking on a major organizational restructure that will involve its container shipping and logistics operations splitting into two separate units as well as making a number of key executive and management changes.
   Effective Sept. 1, the Charlotte, N.C.-based company’s operations will function under two wholly owned subsidiaries, Horizon Lines LLC and Horizon Logistics LLC.
   Brian Taylor, Horizon Lines Inc.’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, is to become the president of Horizon Logistics. Taylor, who has spent more than 23 years at the company, will see his responsibilities include growing the company’s logistics services capabilities and businesses, including rail, truck and distribution operations, in addition to managing Horizon Services Group, the company’s technology subsidiary.
   John Keenan, who joined the company in 1983 and is senior vice president and chief transportation officer, will serve as president of Horizon Lines LLC with responsibility for all core ocean transportation services in the Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and Puerto Rico markets. These include all port, terminal and vessel operations, sales and marketing, and service delivery functions.
   Keenan and Taylor, alongside Mark Urbania, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and John Handy, executive vice president, will report to Charles Raymond, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Horizon Lines Inc.
   “This change in organizational structure allows us to stay focused on our core Jones Act transportation operations while at the same time provides for the future growth and development of our fully integrated logistics services,” Raymond said.
   “I believe that these promotions and realignment of management responsibilities position Horizon Lines to significantly grow our business and achieve exceptional results for our shareholders,” he added.
   Horizon Lines Inc.’s share price on the New York Stock Exchange closed Monday up 4.6 percent to $29.34.