Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> June 12, 2002
JOHN C. URBAN, President of GT Nexus, has over 20 years of experience in
executive management, operations and sales with global transportation
and technology companies. Prior to joining GT Nexus in 1998, Mr. Urban
was an executive with American President Lines, Ltd. world's largest
ocean liner companies and part of the $4.7 billion NOL Group. His most
recent post with APL was Vice President and General Manager of Latin and
South America, where he directed the region's operating and sales
activities, organizational development, agency network and market
planning. Over 15 years with APL, Mr. Urban progressed through positions
including vice president of planning and quality, reporting to the CEO
managing director for The Philippines and Guam, and director of special
commodities. Before APL, Mr. Urban worked for BRAE Corp., a provider of
transportation equipment financing, leasing and management. He joined
BRAE as director of sales and was subsequently promoted to vice
president ' sales. While at BRAE, Mr. Urban was named President of
National Piggyback Specialized Commodities (NPSC), a subsidiary
providing high-value refrigerated intermodal transportation services.
Mr. Urban took over the unit as an unprofitable business, developed and
implemented a turnaround plan and over a two-year period directed the
company's return to profitability. Mr. Urban continued as president of
NPSC after its acquisition by APL. Mr. Urban began his professional
career as an Account Executive for IBM in its large systems group,
following his graduation from the Krannert Graduate School of Management
at Purdue University, where he earned an MBA. He received his Bachelor
of Science in economics from St. Bonaventure University. Profile
Mr. Urban: GT Nexus is about three years old. We started the business
with a focus to help service providers, importers
