Ex-CEO of OHL, private equity firm partner to buy 3PLs

Randall E. Curran and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe initially will focus on U.S.-based contract logistics and transportation management firms.    A New York-based private equity firm has entered a partnership with former Ozburn-Hessey Logistics (OHL) CEO Randall E. Curran to identify and acquire third-party logistics service providers.
   The partnership between Curran and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) initially will focus on U.S.-based contract logistics and transportation management firms. 
   WCAS and Curran earlier partnered on OHL, which led to the company’s sale to Geodis in 2015. At the time of the sale, OHL had 120 distribution centers across North America, along with 8,000 employees. 
   “We intend to invest heavily in automation and visibility technologies on our platform in order to drive efficiencies and improve consumer satisfaction. As a seasoned executive and proven leader with decades of operating and M&A experience, Randy is the ideal partner for this new initiative,” said Ryan Harper, WCAS principal, in a statement.
   “There are quite a few very well run logistics companies that may wish to become part of a larger group,” Curran said. “Our goal will be to leverage what makes each company successful, while offering the market a more extensive value proposition.”
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Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.