ASM names Argent as new general manager, two directors elected

ASM names Argent as new general manager, two directors elected Agency Sector Management (UK) Ltd., a British not-for-profit freight industry representative body and software organization, has promoted John Argent to general manager (designate) and elected two new directors.
   Argent joined ASM in 1999 and since July 2003 has managed its helpdesk. He will take over from Sharon Greer, who is returning to Belfast with her family at the end of December.
   The two new directors elected at ASM’s recent annual general meeting are John Binstead, managing director of Frontier Forwarding Services, and Adrian Creagh, managing director of ATC Air Express Ltd.
   Peter MacSwiney, chairman of ASM, said: 'John will become general manager at a time of great excitement for ASM and its marketplace. The European freight and logistics industry is on the brink of massive upheaval. The multiple revisions being introduced as part of the EU Multi Annual Strategic Plan (MASP) represent change of unprecedented proportion. The impact on companies' computer software requirements is significant.”
   ASM is working on a replacement for its Global eCargo Management System (GeMS) called Sequoia Project that is being designed to provide a one-stop suite of software services to cope with the upcoming rule changes.
   The company aims to have Sequoia generally available to all users at no additional cost to GeMS in time for the introduction of pre-arrival and pre-departure (PAPD) security declarations across the European Union in 2009.
   'In addition to continuing the development of ASMs sales and customer service operation, John's focus will ensure that the initial release of the new software takes place in the third quarter of 2009,' MacSwiney said.