Change at top signals ‘new chapter’ for major Scottish freight and logistics firm

One of Scotland’s best-known freight and logistics firms has unveiled a change of leadership.

Bullet Express, which was founded in 1990 and has a fleet of 130 trucks and trailers, said Grant Donald, currently the firm’s chief operating officer, would become its new chief executive. He succeeds John McKail who is stepping down from the role and will remain on the board as a non-executive director. The leadership change will be effective from November 1.

Donald joined the business a year ago following senior roles at Movianto and DPD and has led the operations of the business across transport, storage and worldwide operations.

Grant Donald and John McKail of Bullet Express. Picture: Spreng Thomson

With some 500,000 square feet of warehouse and transport capacity, Bullet Express has operations in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire; Baillieston, Glasgow; and Westway, Renfrew. The privately-owned company has some 160 employees.

Key business sectors served by the firm include fashion and grocery retail, wines and spirits, industrial, and fitness and leisure.

Outgoing chief executive McKail led the private equity-backed management buy-out of Bullet Express in October 2023 and, after agreeing to lead the business for a further three years, he put in place the leadership change as part of a wider company succession plan.

McKail said: “This is a natural transition for our company that helps me progress to the next phase of my personal plan whilst still supporting the business. Grant’s experience and vision places Bullet Express in safe hands for the long term.”

McKail will remain on the group board as a non-executive director, and in a part-time consultancy capacity, tasked with supporting Donald’s transition as CEO, mentoring leadership and focusing on continued commercial growth, including mergers and acquisitions.

Donald said: “These are exciting times for Bullet Express and I am privileged to take up the challenge of becoming CEO and leading the next phase of development for the business.”

Group chairman Graeme Roberts added: “This is the best result we could have hoped for, having worked closely with both John and Grant. This is a new chapter for Bullet Express with exciting times ahead and we look forward to the next phase of Bullet Express’s journey under Grant’s leadership.”