THOMASVILLE, NC — October 24, 2018 — Marketing executive search firm MarketPro is excited to announce the addition of Richard “Dick” Podiak as the new Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Old Dominion Freight Line. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing and brand management, Dick brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous roles and will report directly to Chip Overbey, Senior VP of Strategic Development, Old Dominion.
Old Dominion Freight Line was announced last month as the top national LTL carrier for quality in the 14th annual MASTIO Quality Award survey. This marks the ninth year in a row that Old Dominion has earned the No. 1 spot in the comprehensive industry survey. The survey, conducted annually by Mastio & Company, solicits feedback from industry customers across a variety of key measures. Of the 26 LTL carriers reported, Old Dominion again grabbed the top spot as Overall Winner.
“I have worked with MarketPro before coming to Old Dominion and they always do a great job. So when we were looking for a new marketing leader we went with the trusted name. They did a fantastic job throughout the search, providing us with a strong slate of highly talented marketers. In the end, Podiak stood out and he is an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Chris Brooks, Senior VP Human Resources & Safety, Old Dominion.
After serving as an Officer in the U.S. Navy, Podiak has built an impressive marketing career at Procter & Gamble and Kellogg prior to joining Old Dominion. At Kellogg, Podiak led their top brands including Eggo, Pop-Tarts, and Cheez-It.
Podiak’s demonstrated track record of uncovering growth opportunities and delivering shareholder value at globally-recognized companies, P&G and Kellogg, makes him the ideal person to lead marketing at Old Dominion. He will have oversight of all aspects of marketing including corporate branding, advertising, partnerships, internal and external communications, CRM, sports and event marketing.
Podiak has a true passion for helping teams identify barriers to growth, unlocking insights, and putting simple and clear strategies in place to overcome barriers. His experience in coaching and developing teams at both P&G and Kellogg aligned with a sharp vision for innovation is the exact inspirational leadership Old Dominion was looking for.
He has accomplished significant results by pairing his leadership skills with a deep understanding of customers gained over a successful career in marketing, strategy development, P&L ownership, and general management.
“Old Dominion is an extremely well-run company with experienced leadership and a clear passion for service. The more I learned about the company, the more attracted I was to the culture. I am excited to pair my experience in marketing leadership and strategy with the quality leader in the LTL industry and to help the company deliver continued growth,” remarked Podiak.
Partnering best in class operations with best in class marketing gives Old Dominion a platform for continued growth.
“Working with the team at Old Dominion was a great experience for us. Old Dominion is a clear industry leader with a really positive culture, who is winning from a business perspective. Add to that the value they place on marketing and we had all the necessary ingredients to attract top talent,” said Bob Van Rossum, President of MarketPro.
Learn More About Old Dominion Freight Line
About MarketPro
MarketPro Inc. is a woman-owned marketing executive search and marketing staffing firm founded in 1996. Recognized as a thought leader in marketing executive talent acquisition. Headquartered in Atlanta, the nationwide recruitment service matches high-performing marketers with clients who need their skills and experience to take their business to the next level. MarketPro has former marketers finding and vetting the talent, so only the best get through to our clients. Learn more at marketproinc.com.
About Old Dominion
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional and national LTL services through a single integrated organization. Our service offerings, which include expedited transportation, are provided through a network of 234 service centers located throughout the continental United States. Through strategic alliances, the Company also provides LTL services throughout North America. In addition to its core LTL services, the Company offers a range of value-added services including container drayage, truckload brokerage and supply chain consulting. To learn more about the company, click here.