Culina Names New CEO to Consolidate Logistics Operations
Clients of retired brands like Eddie Stobart should review logistics contracts as the group moves to a unified operational model.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Business Strategy
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Logistics group Culina has appointed Fabian Koehler as CEO as it pushes forward with its One Culina strategy following a period of extensive internal restructuring. The group has retired legacy subsidiary brands like Eddie Stobart and Great Bear while reorganizing its operations into five new divisions.
Why it matters
The leadership change follows significant financial volatility across major subsidiaries, characterized by rising costs, lost contracts, and declining volumes that prompted the brand consolidation. Operators should monitor how the newly formed Culina International unit aims to stabilize performance across European markets.
Eddie Stobart posted a £24.9 million pre-tax loss on £543.4 million in revenue, a 2.4% decrease, while Great Bear swung to a £13.2 million loss on £526.1 million in revenue. Fowler Welch remained profitable, reporting a £3.3 million pre-tax profit on £191.1 million in revenue.
The players
Fabian Koehler
The newly appointed CEO of Culina who previously served as the company's deputy CEO and spent two decades at logistics giant Kühne+Nagel.
Culina
An international logistics group that recently retired legacy subsidiary brands like Eddie Stobart and Great Bear to reorganize under a unified strategy.
Stijn Gheyle
The newly appointed managing director of Culina International, the division responsible for the group's operations in Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Liam McElroy
The former executive who transitioned to a non-executive role following the leadership shakeup.
Raf Hustinx
The executive leading the company's Finished Vehicle Logistics business unit.
The details
Culina is streamlining its operational structure by consolidating legacy entities into five dedicated divisions and launching Culina International to manage cross-border transport. This involves merging Stobart Europe’s haulage fleet with IRF’s unaccompanied transport assets to optimize regional capacity. The strategy also centralizes commercial efforts under a new group business development director to recover margins lost to contract attrition and rising input costs.
Timeline
2005: Fabian Koehler began his career at Kühne+Nagel.
November 2024: Fabian Koehler joined Culina.
2024: Great Bear recorded a £15.3 million profit.
2025: Eddie Stobart reported a £24.9 million pre-tax loss.
October 26, 2026: Culina announced the executive leadership transition.
Market Landscape
This reorganization follows the One Culina strategy, a precedent event designed to eliminate overlapping administrative costs across the group's legacy haulage brands. The shift mirrors a broader industry trend where logistics operators consolidate fragmented entities to regain margin control amid volatile contract volumes.
Operators should evaluate how their own supply chain vendors manage brand transitions, as the retirement of recognized entities like Eddie Stobart may disrupt established contract terms and service expectations. Review all active logistics agreements to ensure that service-level commitments remain consistent under the newly formed divisional structure.
The takeaway
Culina's pivot underscores the difficulty of maintaining legacy brand autonomy during periods of systemic cost pressure. Operators should audit the parent companies of their key logistics partners to identify similar restructuring risks that could trigger service disruptions or changes in contract management.
Further reading
For more on industry consolidation, read the Business Strategy section.
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Does consolidating multiple subsidiary brands into a single identity improve long-term business success?
