Jo Tanner has been appointed director of communications at the Freight Transport Association. She takes up the post in July and will report to FTA managing director policy and communications, James Hookham. She succeeds FTA director of external affairs Geoff Dossetter, who retires at the end of September.

Tanner joins FTA after more than two years as chief executive of the Coalition for Medical Progress, an advocacy organisation for animal research. Previously, she was with the British Dental Association where she led high profile media and public affairs campaigns on access to NHS dentistry and water fluoridation.

Tanner said: “I am delighted to be joining the Freight Transport Association at such a critical time for the logistics industry. I am looking forward to getting the industry’s voice heard and, more importantly, respected and responded to.”

Hookham said: “We are delighted that Jo Tanner is joining us - she comes with a successful track record in dealing with health matters, which bear comparison with the sort of issues important to the transport industry. Like good health, efficient freight transport is important to the whole population, but the way it is carried out is sometimes a matter of public debate. I have no doubt that her previous experience will be of enormous value to us.”

Dossetter first joined FTA in 1978 and left to become director of public affairs at the Retail Motor Industry Federation in 1986. He rejoined FTA in 1994.

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