Published: January 8, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Brian Hay has stepped down as CEO of The Cardinal Partnership after 28 years.
Hay has assumed the role of executive chair while he’s been succeeded as CEO by John Keary.
It was back in 1988 that Hay quit his job to co-found Cardinal alongside two friends – Rob Cross and David Garratt – with a £15,000 loan and bootstrapped it into one of the biggest names in global logistics.
Today, The Cardinal Partnership is the world’s largest employee-owned logistics business, merging two brands, Far Logistics and Cardinal Global Logistics.
Hay, who was born in Wythenshawe and was included in BusinessCloud’s 2025 Northern Leaders list, said: “I love this business. Everything we do is intentional and comes from a good place.
“We’ve learned that when you focus on being kind, caring and supportive, the good stuff tends to follow.
“I’m hugely grateful to continue my journey with Cardinal, and I genuinely feel we are still at the beginning of something special.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past 28 years.
“In my new role as executive chair, I’ll continue to work closely with the board, the business, and our Employee Trust on culture, governance, and strategy.”
The group has earned recognition in the logistics sector for its tech-powered approach.