Regional ports director Simon Bird steps down

‘NINE SUCCESSFUL YEARS’: Simon Bird

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Simon Bird, the regional director for the Humber for Associated British Ports (ABP), is stepping down from his role after nine successful years, the company said.

During his tenure, Mr Bird has been instrumental in driving forward significant change in the region including improving health and safety standards for employees and port users, significantly boosting viability, bringing forward large projects that enable de-carbonisation and support the green energy transition, and bringing forward significant land purchases such as at Stallingborough, ABP said.

He has also been instrumental in securing Humber Freeport, which he now chairs.

Mr Bird’s impressive career spans more than 28 years as a senior leader in the UK ports sector.

He began his industry career in the maritime and ports sector on the board of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (now Peel ports), and went on to be CEO at Bristol Port Company before joining ABP’s executive board as regional director for the Humber region in 2015.

Mr Bird served on the Board of all three ports companies as well as serving as deputy chair and then chair of the UK Major Ports Group, and was Port Advisor to the UK Government.

He has been an Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve since 2014 and continued to support the Navy whilst carrying out his role as regional director, something in which he takes “immense pride”, the company said.

A spokesperson for ABP said: “The shareholders and executive board colleagues would like to express their sincere gratitude to Simon for the significant contribution he has made to the company.”