EF News
Take a look behind our members’ boardrooms and discover what makes their businesses tick. In this issue we chat with Moody Logistics’ Managing Director Caroline Moody about what it's like working in a family boardroom, being the only woman in the room and the future of the haulage industry.
Moody Logistics and Storage has been a trusted name in the haulage industry for 76 years, growing from a household coal round in 1947 to a 30+ vehicle fleet delivering pallets of goods throughout the UK.
Throughout the company’s history and evolutions it has managed to maintain a proud family-only board, with current Managing Director Caroline Moody taking over the role from her father nine years ago.
“The board has always been made up of family and it still is to this day,” explained Caroline.
“We’ve got my father, Alan Moody, he’s our Chairman and 40% shareholder. My brother, Richard Moody, is the Operations Director. My brother-in-law, Gavin Cape, is our Engineering Director and I make up the four as the Managing Director.” Finding a boardroom made up of exclusively family members is rare and no doubt a totally different dynamic to a boardroom of unrelated business people and non-execs. But, it's all Caroline and her family have ever known.
“It’s hard to compare the Moody boardroom to other, non-family, businesses because it’s virtually the only experience we’ve ever had,” said Caroline. “In a way, it’s been difficult for all of us because we’ve learned as we’ve grown up in the business rather than going out and getting experience in different jobs, and working our way up the promotion ladders, like most people do.
“I have sat on some other boards, but my brothers haven’t. We’ve just all learned together, found our own ways through trial and error, adapting to what works for us as a business and individuals.”
With Caroline having spent a little time advising other businesses, she’s one of the only Moody board members that’s experienced any sort of boardroom environment that wasn’t a family one! So, what was the main difference between the Moody boardroom and traditional boardrooms?
“I suppose we’ve been able to make decisions quicker - much quicker at times,” explained Caroline.
“That was something that stood us on good ground throughout the Covid pandemic. Of course, it was incredibly challenging for everyone but the haulage sector had to battle through it and address some big issues in the process.
“We had driver shortages and wages rising really quickly. But, because we were a family unit I feel we could make decisions quicker for the benefit of the business without any red tape. It made us so much more agile because decisions could be made in a couple of phone calls rather than huge email chains or weeks of meetings.
“Whereas, with other boards that I’ve sat on, the process of getting things done felt much more long-winded. But, on the other hand, you could argue that family businesses aren’t as ‘professional’ as they should be in some respects because we say what we mean and get straight to the point.
“We’re all pulling in the same direction. Which is the advantage of UK families in general. There’s no hidden agendas or internal politics. There’s pros and cons, but blunt honesty works for us.”
Moody has never recruited any non-exec directors onto its board, but that hasn’t stopped Caroline reaching out for mentoring and advice. “We’ve never felt the need to go the non-exec route,” said Caroline.
“There’s been a few projects where I’ve reached out to consultants to chat things through and help me with an outsider's perspective on things. Sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes on things to progress.
“So, we've got a good group of go-to people that we speak to for advice and we’ve got a good group of accountants that really help us on the financial side of things. Other than that it’s all us!”
You’d imagine being the only female voice in a board and industry dominated by men can be quite the challenge. But, for Caroline, taking charge and getting her voice heard comes easy. “I’ve always been the bossy sister, so the MD role feels natural,” explained Caroline. “It's just that I've got a different skillset to my brothers. I'm better at long-term planning and strategy and that’s why I do the job I do. Whereas both my brother and Gavin are much more in the moment, people involved in the day-to-day, operational side of the business.
“Even though they’re directors, they look at today, the next day. I focus on the bigger picture! The two views together work well.”
Speaking of the bigger picture, sustainability has been one of the biggest challenges facing the future of the haulage and logistics industry. But, as far as Caroline is concerned, Moody Logistics’ family unit is ready to face whatever the future throws at them.
“I make sure to keep on top of what’s happening in regards to sustainability and the changes in the marketplace,” said Caroline. “But I don’t let myself get too concerned. Right now, the UK infrastructure isn’t in place for hydrogen powered or fully electric fleets. But when that time comes we’re confident we’ll be able to adapt like we always have over the years. “The way I see it, we went from horse and cart to trucks, so I'm not worried about the future!”
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