In the North East, where automotive manufacturing is as much a part of the landscape as its people, few careers reflect the sector's evolution quite like that of Martin Kendall.
From driving forklift trucks on Nissan’s shopfloor in the mid-1980s to leading a global logistics operation – and now stepping into the role of Chair of the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) – his story is not just one of progression, but one rooted in belief: belief in people, innovation and the region itself.
“When you look back, it’s been quite a journey,” Martin reflects. “I started on the shopfloor in Material Handling, and we all learnt and adapted to the business together, and everything since then has been about continuous improvement – both personally and as a business.”
His career began in 1986, the same year Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK opened in Sunderland. Starting in material handling, he progressed quickly – from FLT driver/ Instructor, then team leader, supervisor and ultimately into Material Handling engineering.
It’s a grounding that continues to shape his leadership today.
“I’ve always believed that understanding the detail – how things work on the ground – is critical. It gives you the foundation to make better decisions and support your teams more effectively.”
In 2002, Martin made a pivotal move, joining what was then Autrans – later becoming Vantec Europe – as General Manager. At the time, the business was still closely aligned with Nissan, but under his leadership it began to evolve, diversifying into new sectors, expanding internationally and building a broader, more resilient customer base.
By the time he became Managing Director in 2012, the company had a £24 million turnover and around 600 employees. Today, it has grown into a £60 million business employing more than 1,200 people across the UK.
“From building bespoke Logistics centres, launching businesses in St Petersburg and in Canton, Mississippi, it has always been about taking on the challenge and pushing boundaries,” he says. “Looking at where we can grow, diversify and future-proof the business.”
That ambition has seen the company expand across sectors including luxury automotive, construction equipment, electric batteries and offshore renewable energy, supporting customers such as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Bentley Motors, Komatsu, BMW Mini, AESC and GE Vernova.
But growth is only part of the story. Innovation has been equally central to Martin’s leadership.
One of the most notable examples is the development of the UK’s first ‘living warehouse’ – an immersive training and safety environment.
“It was about thinking differently,” he explains. “How can we train people in a safer, more engaging way? How can we use technology to reduce risk and improve performance?”
That thinking evolved further during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the creation of a purpose-built Virtual Interactive Experience (VIE) focused on immersive training, safety and continuous improvement, with a clear goal of zero harm.
From 3D interactive training suites to in-house digital systems, the business has embraced a technology-led approach, supported by dedicated innovation and digital transformation teams.
“We’re in a different world now,” Martin says. “Digitalisation, automation, data – these aren’t future concepts, they’re here now. If you’re not adapting, you’re falling behind.”
That mindset underpins the company’s most recent transformation: the move from Vantec Europe to LOGISTEED UK Limited.
The rebrand marks its integration into the global LOGISTEED Group, strengthening its position within an international logistics network operating across more than 30 countries. More importantly, it signals a shift towards fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions.
“This is about evolution,” Martin says. “We’re becoming more connected globally, offering more integrated services and giving our customers access to a much wider network and capability.”
Yet despite its global reach, the business remains firmly rooted in the North East.
“It all started here,” he adds. “That connection to Sunderland, to the region – it’s still a huge part of who we are.”
It’s this combination of operational experience, strategic thinking and innovation that has led to Martin’s appointment as Chair of the NEAA.
Having previously served on the organisation’s Executive and Advisory Boards, he brings a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
“This is a pivotal time for automotive,” he says. “Electrification, global supply chains, cost pressures, new technologies – it’s changing fast. The NEAA has a critical role to play in helping businesses navigate that and work together.”
For Martin, collaboration is key. “No one organisation can do it alone. It’s about bringing people together, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities across the region.”
As Martin steps into his new role as Chair of the NEAA, there’s a clear alignment between his own journey and the future of the sector he now represents.
From the shopfloor at Nissan to leading a globally connected logistics business, his career mirrors the transformation of the North East automotive landscape itself.
And while the industry continues to evolve at pace, his outlook remains firmly optimistic.
“The North East has always been about resilience, innovation and collaboration,” he says. “If we build on those strengths, there’s a really exciting future ahead.”
UK.logisteed.com