J.B. Hunt President Shelley Simpson will replace John Roberts as CEO of the trucking giant this summer, the carrier announced Thursday.
Simpson, who has worked at J.B. Hunt for nearly 30 years, will retain her role as president as she takes over the chief executive job July 1, according to the announcement. She is the first woman to serve as CEO of the company.
Roberts, the company’s CEO since 2011, will become executive board chairman following the retirements of Executive Chairman Kirk Thompson and board member Wayne Garrison. Thompson and Garrison will move to advisory board roles as honorary founding directors.
J.B. Hunt, which lost a legend last year with Craig Harper’s retirement, is among a number of major trucking companies with new leaders taking over in key C-suite roles. Old Dominion Freight Line, XPO, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings and Landstar System are just a few that have promoted or hired new faces.
The changes at J.B. Hunt are part of a leadership succession plan, the company said.
“These steps help to ensure the culture and innovative growth mindset that has been so vital to the success of our company remains strong and intact to support the vision and the values of the Company for the foreseeable future,” Roberts said in a statement.
Simpson was named president in 2022 after working in numerous executive roles with the carrier, including marketing as well as its truckload and highway services segment, where she oversaw the launch of J.B. Hunt 360 in 2017.
She credits her career development to the company’s current leaders and wants to continue that tradition.
“We’re known for our highly talented and experienced people, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the very best,” Simpson said in the announcement. “Kirk, Wayne and John are not only great leaders, but they understand the importance of building great leaders, and how that creates stability, opportunities for growth and ultimately drives long-term success for a company.”
