J.B. Hunt Names Shelley Simpson Company President

Simpson
Shelley Simpson (Business Wire)

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J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. appointed Shelley Simpson president — the first woman to serve in that role.

Simpson, elected by the company board of directors, will assume the position Aug. 1, the company announced July 20.

She replaces John Roberts, who will remain the company’s CEO.



“I am grateful for John’s continued leadership and growth mindset,” Simpson said in a statement. “As our yearlong 60th anniversary comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on our company’s storied history of innovation.”

Her career with the company stretches almost three decades, with half that time in executive leadership roles.

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Roberts

“Over her tenure at J.B. Hunt, Shelley has worn multiple hats across our business, bringing a data-driven, experienced-based approach to every area she has led,” Roberts, president and CEO at J.B. Hunt, said in a statement. He also will remain a member of the board of directors.

“If you look at the most disruptive areas of our company, from new technologies to global commercialization to investments in our people, Shelley’s innovative leadership has always guided us toward positive results,” Roberts added.

Simpson in her new role will take charge of oversight of all management duties and performance for all company business units, emerging technology, developing services and human resources.

“From leading the way as the industry’s first asset-based intermodal service provider to leveraging the benefits of technology for shippers and carriers through J.B. Hunt 360, our people have and will continue to fuel our growth through a cycle of innovation that is intrinsic to our organization,” Simpson said.

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Simpson most recently served as chief commercial officer and executive vice president of people and human resources, in addition to leading international services and corporate marketing.

She was named president of integrated capacity solutions in 2007 after helping to create the business unit. She assumed sales and marketing executive responsibilities in 2011 as chief marketing officer. She became president of the truckload business segment in 2014.

“We have an exceptional executive leadership team in place with an average tenure of more than 25 years at the company,” Simpson said. “As I take on this new role, I remain committed to empowering our people to continue to disrupt, adapt and accelerate and fiercely focus on driving value for our customers, with financial discipline and dedication to our mission to create the most efficient transportation network in North America.”

Simpson was eventually named chief commercial officer and president of highway services in 2017. She led the strategic direction and launch of the load board and freight management solution J.B. Hunt 360° around that time as well. She added responsibilities for people and human resources in 2020.

J.B. Hunt credited her career as being reflective of the progress it made as an innovative leader in the transportation and logistics industry.

Also, Brad Hicks will continue as president of highway services and will take on additional responsibilities as executive vice president of people. Hicks has been at the company for 26 years and has served in executive roles since 2017.

Spencer Frazier will assume the role of executive vice president of sales and marketing. Frazier has been with the company for 21 years. He most recently served as senior vice president of sales.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. ranks No. 4 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America. It also ranks No. 5 on the TT list of the 100 largest logistics companies in North America.

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