XPO cuts include high-ranking Menlo execs

Former president Robert Bianco and COO Gary Kowalski of Con-way’s contract logistics subsidiary were let go recently as XPO looks to consolidate its leadership positions.    Recent staff culls at XPO Logistics include a group of high ranking executives at Menlo , XPO confirmed to American Shipper this week.
   Menlo was acquired as part of XPO’s $3 billion purchase of Con-way in fall 2015. XPO spokesman Gary Frantz said former Menlo president Robert Bianco and chief operating officer Gary Kowalski were both let go recently “as part of our plan to eliminate redundancies following the acquisition. We’re integrating the former Menlo operations into our global supply chain organization, where we already have a seasoned executive team in place in North America and Europe.
   “Everything is fitting together very nicely for our existing accounts, and for our new customers in healthcare, high tech and e-commerce,” added Frantz. “That’s a credit to our supply chain team, and it reflects the quality of the operations that Bob and Gary built over the past 20 years. We wish them the best in their future endeavors.”
   Various reports from other media outlets suggested that at least two other high ranking Menlo officials were also let go, though XPO didn’t comment on their departures.
   The news comes in the wake of 190 staff cuts in XPO’s less-than-truckload business, the primary piece of the Con-way acquisition, as the company reconciles redundancies from the handful of major deals it consummated in the past three years.
   XPO Chief Executive Officer Brad Jacobs said the company would spend 2016 on refining its sales efforts and won’t be making any further acquisitions this year.
   Menlo was a mid-sized player with a focus on contract logistics, an area where XPO has made significant investment through acquisitions. It purchased U.S.-based contract logistics provider New Breed Logistics in 2014 and then Norbert Dentressangle and its significant contract logistics business in Europe last year. ND had only recently acquired U.S.-based contract logistics provider Jacobson Co. prior to being acquired by XPO.