Dive Brief:
ABF Freight President Seth Runser is set to be promoted next month to the position of president at ArcBest, the parent company of the LTL carrier, as announced by the company on Thursday.
Seth Runser, ABF Freight president, will assume the role of ArcBest’s president on August 1.
Permission granted by ABF Freight
Runser will be joined by Judy McReynolds, who will continue as CEO and chairman, in leading the company starting August 1. Matt Godfrey, currently VP of engineering at ABF Freight, will succeed Runser as president of the century-old LTL carrier. McReynolds praised Runser for achieving record results, improving profitability, and enhancing operational efficiency, stating, “His extensive business knowledge, innovative mindset, and dedication to furthering ArcBest’s mission make him the ideal candidate to take over as president.”
Dive Insight:
This promotion aligns with a growing trend in the trucking industry to separate the roles of president and CEO, which have traditionally been held by one individual. This transition can facilitate a clear succession plan, rewarding capable leaders while ensuring continuity at the executive level. Werner Enterprises and Prime Inc. have similarly promoted internal candidates to the role of president while preserving their current CEOs this year. Additionally, ABF Freight’s competitor, Estes Express Lines, has a similar corporate structure.
Companies’ motivations for splitting these roles vary depending on their specific contexts, according to McReynolds in a February interview discussing the trend. She highlighted that larger firms with subsidiaries often establish their leadership by appointing presidents for each business unit. “There are times when that makes sense,” she noted, adding that the CEO role should carry ultimate responsibility.
McReynolds has been at the helm of ArcBest as president and CEO since 2010 and is one of the few women leading a major company in the trucking sector. Runser, who has been president of ABF Freight since 2021, has a 17-year tenure with the company.
Godfrey, the future leader of the flagship LTL, has served as VP of engineering since 2021 and is a 20-year veteran of the company. McReynolds emphasized his role in optimizing operations, stating, “He has overseen our optimization strategies, which have enhanced capacity and provided value for customers, and he has a profound understanding of the ABF network and our overall strategy.”
