Direct ChassisLink, Inc. (“DCLI”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lee Newitt as CEO, effective January 1, 2024, and other promotions within its leadership team as the company draws on its deep bench of talent to drive its next chapter of growth. After a long and highly successful career in the intermodal industry, Bill Shea will step down from the day-to-day management of DCLI while continuing to serve the company as a board member and strategic advisor.

Lee joined DCLI in 2013 and has steadily increased his responsibilities over the past decade. Most recently, he served as President overseeing the Operations, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Legal, and External Affairs functions. In his time with DCLI, Lee has played a pivotal role in the company’s success as it grew more than fivefold to become the largest provider of marine and domestic container chassis in the U.S.

Michael Moore, chairman of DCLI’s board of directors, said “Bill has had a tremendous impact on the intermodal industry throughout his career, most recently by helping transform the nation’s chassis fleet over the last decade. I have witnessed first-hand the huge contributions he has made both to the company’s success and to that of the industry as a whole.” Michael also noted that, “Lee has demonstrated a keen ability to deliver growth, lead people, and help guide the organization through challenging times, including a global pandemic. We look forward to building on that success.”

“These changes recognize the tremendous contributions that Lee and others have made to DCLI’s past success and will position the company to continue to deliver strong financial and operational results,” said Bill Shea, DCLI CEO. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished as a team and excited about our future. I would also like to thank DCLI’s owners, employees, customers, and partners for the tremendous support they have given to me over the last decade. Building DCLI into the organization it is today has been a labor of love and it is those relationships that have made it such a great experience.”

The company is also announcing the retirement of COO Ron Joseph after nearly 50 years in the transportation industry. Ron joined DCLI shortly after it was carved out from Maersk in 2012 and built a world-class operating team that was foundational to the company’s rapid growth. Effective January 1, 2024, Mike Wells, SVP Operations, will become the Chief Operating Officer. Mike spent 17 years with Cardinal Logistics, a major U.S. trucking company, and served as the EVP of Operations prior to joining DCLI in 2014.

In addition, Matt Stiff will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer. Matt has worked in finance for over fifteen years, most recently serving as VP Finance for DCLI. He joined the company in 2013 and has built its financial and strategic planning functions since that time.

“I am humbled by the confidence that the DCLI board of directors has shown in me,” said DCLI President and CFO Lee Newitt, “and I want to thank Bill for all his guidance and friendship over the years. I look forward to building on the tremendous success that he, Ron, and others have delivered since DCLI’s founding just over a decade ago.”