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TNT Logistics managing director Neil Crossthwaite says things couldn't be better under the company's new ownership. He tells Motor Transport that he gets more freedom under new owners Apollo Management, and as a "standalone entity, our decision making process will be leaner and quicker. It's been the most exciting 12 months of my life - and I've been here for 28½ years," he says. "Now we're going to be able to focus on what we do. We're no longer competing with express parcels and post for funds.  Apollo invests in management and expects management to grow and develop the business. I think this is better for us than simply being a division of a major PLC."

The uncertainty of TNT Logistics' future for the past year has done nothing to hold back the business, says Crossthwaite. "It's the opposite. We haven't lost a single customer - in fact our renewal rate overall is the highest it's been for four years. And our new business is as healthy this year as it's ever been." He is confident that there will be no quick on-sell by the new venture capitalist owners, and that his company will not go down the same route as Hays Logistics, bought by Kuehne + Nagel after a short spell at ACR. "Our business development efforts are as effective as they've always been."

"I don't think they had that at ACR," he adds. CEVA is already looking to the New Year, with Crossthwaite revealing there are two big announcements for January, one major contract renewal and one significant new  win. Plans to move out of the TNT UK head office in Atherstone, Warwickshire, were underway even before the announcement that TNT Logistics was up for sale, but while the company wants to stay local there are no definite decisions on a new location. "I want the company to grow and to outperform our major competitors - that's my ambition for this business," says Crossthwaite. "We're number three at the moment and there is no real ambition to become number one. Exel are so big and so dominant and I don't know if that's a happy state of affairs," he adds.