Martin Connolly

I am a Logistics and supply chain professional with 20+years experience. I have for many years been a member of the FTA NI freight council, vice chairman for a number of years and was chairman from jan 2013. I have been involved in lobbying various departments and ministers of State.

I strive for continuing improvement in service levels and efficiency. I have held Director, General Manager and Regional Manager roles. I have gained considerable experience in growing business operations whilst ensuring efficiency through KPI monitoring and business rationalization.

I am experienced in budget preparation, Multi Temp warehousing operations, Multi Temp fleet operations and 3pl provider management. I have re- shaped and rebuilt a number of operations during my career. I have a broad range of experience across a wide range of sectors within the industry often being the lead in evaluating and proposing new policy and software.

I have a broad range of contacts across these multiple sectors.

With over two decades leading multi‑site, unionised logistics and manufacturing‑adjacent operations, I’m energised by a vision for operational excellence and innovation. My track record in delivering measurable gains in safety, service, and profitability aligns directly with growth ambitions.

In my recent role as Logistics Manager at Dale Farm, I steered a seven‑day, multi‑site tanker network moving 40% of Northern Ireland’s milk supply. I managed a £14 million budget and a combined workforce of over 120, driving on‑time delivery and compliance in a tightly regulated environment.

At Corus

Steel I rebuilt the department and nurtured service excellence and reduced costs from over£15 / T to under £9. At Nightline I transformed the business to regularly hit 99% delivery reliability and made it a profit centre.

Earlier, at Wincanton, I helped boost H&S performance ratings from 53% to 75% and raised pick rates from 156 to 173 cases per hour through targeted process optimisation. My achievements are underpinned by IOSH Managing Safely and multiple DNV Health & Safety accreditations, ensuring a safety‑first culture at all levels.

Beyond operations leadership, I have overseen major capital investments, implemented new software solutions to streamline reporting and KPI tracking, and navigated organisational change through TUPE onboarding and business integration. I am confident my ability to combine strategic oversight with hands‑on site leadership will deliver the cost efficiencies, service standards, and a culture of continuous improvement.

I welcome the opportunity to bring my blend of operational rigour, people leadership, and safety expertise to your team, and to help shape the next chapter of success.

Qualifications

Numerous courses in Corus and Dale Farm on Managing safely, Interview technique, Communication skills, Leadership etc, HR etc.

2009 IOSH - Certificate in managing safely - pass

2002 International/National Certificate of Professional Competence in road haulage operations Transport Training Services

University Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Transport Studies with Diploma in Industrial studies (1992-1996)

• University of Ulster at Jordanstown 
• Degree Result - Class 2.1 
• Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) Result - Pass with Commendation