We are delighted to welcome Gordon Matson to the team at LS Customs as our new Customs Manager. Gordon discusses his career progression, upcoming projects, and the priorities for LS Customs over the coming years.
How has your career progressed to where you are now?
I started my career in logistics with Kuehne + Nagel in 2004 after graduating from university. I worked with the company for 16 years where I held a variety of roles from customs entries to chartering aircraft and vessels. In 2014, I took on the role of National Oil and Energy Manager, looking after a large team based across several office and warehouse sites in the UK. In that time, I gained a lot of experience in all aspects of the international supply chain with a specific focus on oil and energy.
In 2021, I joined Peterson at Torry Marine Base as the Service Delivery Manager for one of our biggest clients. This allowed me to develop a deep understanding of quayside logistics before moving into my current role with LS Customs.
What is your area of expertise?
My various roles have allowed me to develop a good all-round knowledge of logistics, shipping and customs. More recently, I have spent a lot of time working with clients on customs challenges, especially with regards to Brexit and the impact this has had on businesses who had a close relationship with Europe.
Are there any projects you are particularly looking forward to working on?
The customs aspect of the UK Continental Shelf and how goods are tracked to offshore installations is about to change after a few years of debate. The team at LS Customs has been at the heart of talks with the industry and HMRC during these discussions and when the final solution is agreed and implemented, we’ll be in a great position to guide our clients through the changes and what these mean to them.
What are the priorities for LS Customs?
The introduction of the new Customs Declaration System (beginning in October for imports and March 2023 for exports) will result in changes for how businesses deal with their clearance agents. Ensuring our clients are prepared and compliant will be our biggest focus over the next few months.
Do you have any goals you would like to achieve for LS Customs over the coming years?
I am eager to raise our profile and increase awareness of what we can offer. We have a fantastic team here and our service offering helps to make a Supply Chain Manager’s life much simpler. With that in mind, I am looking to grow the team, expand our training offering and explore other areas where we can assist, such as trade compliance.
