RLS Logistics, a provider of cold chain solutions, and its affiliates recently boosted their national expansion plans with a string of new hires and promotions.
The moves include co-founding RLS Partners with Tom Casey, a noted business leader, entrepreneur and veteran of the cold storage industry. His involvement is bolstered by promoting another industry leader, Ken Johnson, to chief operating officer of RLS Warehousing Group; and elevating Ron Pack to vice president of technology.
RLS maintains the moves further its goal of providing food manufacturers and entrepreneur-led cold storage companies an “unprecedented” platform and national network. The changes within the RLS organizations are designed to support the entrepreneurial spirit and family values at the core of the RLS PRO Program.
Casey brings more than 30 years of leadership experience as CEO, CFO, board member and banker. His industry expertise extends from consumer business and food manufacturing to cold storage and investment banking. As the CIO of RLS Partners, Casey oversees the allocated capital to acquire and develop cold chain businesses in the United States and Canada. Before joining RLS Partners, he was a co-founder, CIO and CFO of Emergent Cold.
Casey developed his financial leadership skills as an investment banker at leading firms, including Dillon, Read & Co, Merrill Lynch, Salomon Brothers (Citigroup) and Deutsche Bank—as well as during his time serving in the Navy aboard a nuclear submarine.
Johnson is a cold storage industry veteran who moved through the ranks from his prior position as RLS’ executive VP for the Warehousing Group. In addition to his current responsibilities, he will oversee the integration and operations of the new Partnering Regional Operators (PROs) in RLS’s national network by sharing best practices and implementing operational standards.
Scaling the network of family-operated facilities is a natural for Johnson, who spent 26 years at MTC Logistics. Prior to joining RLS, he served as MTC Logistics’ senior VP of operations.
Pack was director of IT for RLS Logistics before this promotion. In the newly created role of technology VP, he will oversee the technology integrations at each PRO location, including implementing RLS’s Anello online customer portal at each site.
The RLS technology stack provides PROs with tools for growing their business and increasing competitiveness. Pack is charged with making it happen by getting the PROs converted to a single technology platform.
With the PRO business model in place, people are the key to getting the execution correct.
“Promoting these individuals and partnering with the best people in the industry aligns with our strategic plan and long term vision for RLS,” said Tony Leo, CEO of RLS Warehousing Group. “I am confident their belief in our cultural values of being humble, hungry and smart will help the PRO program to succeed.”
