Meet John Gibbs

From Dockside Dreams to Boardroom Vision: A Conversation with Our Managing Director

We recently sat down with our Managing Director to hear about his journey through the world of shipping, his take on what makes Warrant tick, and who inspired him growing up. His story is filled with personality, honesty, and a fair bit of humour — here’s what he had to say.

A Career Anchored in People, Pints, and Progress

Q: Tell us about your career in shipping.
A: “I started my shipping adventure with P&O Nedlloyd back in 1996. Honestly, those early years were less about logistics and more about liquid logistics — the Liverpool pub scene was our second office, and the social life was unbeatable. I can’t claim to remember all the lessons I learned back then, but I do remember the people — many of whom I’m still in touch with almost 30 years later.

After a short stint in freight forwarding at RH Freight, which wasn’t quite the right fit at the time, I made the move to NYK Line. That was a game-changer — a fantastic company where I truly found my footing in commercial shipping.

Years later, NYK merged with K-Line and MOL to form Ocean Network Express (ONE), and I eventually led the UK Commercial team in the newly formed company. After 22 fulfilling years, I took on a new challenge at CMA CGM as Commercial Director — a brilliant learning curve, and one I thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the great people I worked with.

Then came the unexpected twist. An old friend from Warrant, Ian Jones, reached out about the Managing Director role. At first, I wasn’t sure — I hadn’t touched freight forwarding in over two decades. But Ian is persuasive, and I took the plunge. It was the toughest decision of my career, but also the best one. After 7 months (do we change to over a year if we are doing it as current, if backdating no probs) at Warrant, I’m surrounded by a fantastic team and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

Why Warrant? It’s the People.

Q: What makes Warrant different?
A: “It’s tempting to say we’re ‘unique’ — but let’s be real. There are a lot of freight forwarders out there, and saying we’re different can sound a bit hollow.

What I can say with absolute certainty is that the people here are outstanding. I’ve sat down one-on-one with over 60 team members already, and the consistent theme is that they’re happy — genuinely happy. That’s not easy to achieve in any business.

The level of service we deliver is exceptional. Visiting customers and hearing their feedback first-hand has been incredibly rewarding. Our operations team is top-tier, and the senior management team has made my transition here seamless — though they might say I’ve shaken things up!”

Beyond Shipping: Football, Idols & What Could Have Been

Q: Who was your idol growing up?
A: “Like most Scouse lads of my generation, football was everything. I grew up during the glory days of Merseyside football. While Everton were strong, it was Ian Rush who really captured my imagination. That said, I had a strange obsession with Steve Nicol — I proudly wore his number 4 shirt in Sunday league games, even though I wasn’t exactly Premier League material.”

Q: If you had to choose a dream career outside of shipping, what would it be?
A: “Easy. Centre half for Liverpool. Sadly, by 15 I realised I lacked the height, the strength… and the talent. By 18, I was booking chemical shipments from Runcorn to Singapore, and that dream had officially sailed.”

Looking Ahead

Our MD’s journey through the shipping world is a perfect blend of hard-earned experience, great stories, and a deep respect for people — whether colleagues, customers, or footballing heroes.

At Warrant, we’re proud to be led by someone who values relationships as highly as results. With his leadership and a truly exceptional team behind him, the future for Warrant is bright, bold, and firmly on course.