Des Ponsonby
Managing Director
Name: Des Ponsonby
Marital Status:
Happily married to Hilary since 1975. Family: We have 4
great children - Claire, Sarah, Shaun and Liam. The two
girls have produced 5 lovely grandchildren; Niall, Alana, and Theo
(Claire's 3) and Sarah has Mirren and Connor. Shaun is a
musician whose life revolves around his indie band, whilst Liam is
a career soldier. Our family are the most important thing in
our lives, and the grandchildren are the centre of our
universe.
Interests:
Too many to mention, but in terms of the time they take up, I am
a life long Birmingham City fan watching my first match in
1963. Then if that isn't enough punishment to take, I
have been attending England International football matches
since 1998.
Sport:
I played a reasonable standard of cricket for many years, and
played football with many good players who always left me aware
that my love for the game wasn't replicated by any great ability to
play it. However, team games taught me a lot about sharing
enthusiasm and focus, and how powerfully they can
influence sport, business and life in general.
Academic Qualifications:
None. Although I was lucky enough to attend a good quality
grammar school. I had a total aversion to any form of
learning at that time. Strangely since leaving school I have
become an avid researcher into many subjects that have caught my
attention. Almost all historical events hold my
interest, predominantly conflicts from 1066 to the
present day, but especially the two World Wars.
Other Activities:
I have a very catholic taste in music, which covers almost every
genre apart from folk! Anything else I find worthy of
listening to. I enjoy films but notice that it is always
Hilary's choice if we go out to the cinema!
Favourite Saying: "Keep Right On" to the end of the road.
Favourite Films: The Alamo, Titanic, Godfather I and II, (oh
alright) and III.
Favourite Book: Fiction - Birdsong by Sebastion Faulks.
Non Fiction - A bridge too far by Cornelius Ryan.
Favourite Music: Always changing but at the moment the CD player
in my car holds Les Miserables soundtrack, Northern Soul classics,
Ian Drury's greatest hits, and my son's band, Black Market Empire's
first offerings.
Past:
Joining dad's fledgling transport/removal company from
school. In fact I left school six months early to start as
dad had won a seasonal contract to deliver United Biscuits products
throughout the industrial West Midlands. I loved my work then
and through many changes always maintained my enthusiasm for the
business. We switched to articulated traction style work in
1981 and in 1984 after our cousin John Mangan joined the company,
at that stage as a salesman, and we moved into storage and
distribution. By 1990 the family company, Ponsonby Highcare,
had developed into one of the most high profile and instantly
recognised brands in the industry, with its blue and white colours
and butterfly logo. In 1997 myself and my brother Paul decided to
go our separate ways and soon after Corporate Solutions Logistics
was born with a business model based on a 4th party concept.
Present:
Corporate Solutions Logistics has grown and prospered and its
greatest strength has been the unity and knowledge of the board;
John Mangan (FD), Brian Croghan (SD) and Mark Ponsonby (OD) who all
bring with them a wealth of experience plus a combination of
commerciality and understanding of the industry that is second to
none. To work with 3 people who are such great personal
friends makes each day at work a pleasure to be there.
The Future:
To help develop Corporate Solutions Logistics so that it is seen
as one of the leading companies in the logistics industry.
