The company which manages Barrow and Silloth ports has announced the appointment of Lex Hanham as head of commercial for Wales and short sea ports.
Lex will lead the commercial team across 16 of the company’s ports, serving customers all around England and Scotland helping to drive regional growth, attract investment and support local businesses and communities.
The network of ports plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, handling over 20 million tonnes of cargo annually and covering 5,400 acres of port estate.
Lex brings 17 years of maritime experience to the role, having held senior positions across commercial development, property, and project management at ABP.
She takes up the head of commercial role, having served as business development manager across the ABP group, spearheading complex major projects to grow trade handling capability and to accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition.
She said: “I am delighted to take on this new role and lead a team of talented commercial colleagues across England, Scotland and Wales.
“With access to 16 ports nationwide we are well connected and equipped to offer customers a wealth of cross-sector expertise and opportunities to meet their business needs.
“I look forward to applying lessons from working with a huge variety of customers, not just in freight and logistics but also across energy transition-related sectors and startups to help strengthen existing customer relationships and grow our appeal to customers of the future.”
During her time in the business development function, Lex played a leading role in advancing ABP’s work in relation to accelerating maritime decarbonisation and innovation, focusing on key sectors such as alternative fuels, clean hydrogen and engaging with over 200 clean tech start-ups.
Her contribution to the UK’s green economy earned wider industry recognition with her nomination for the prestigious BusinessGreen Woman of the Year 2025 Award earlier this year.
Prior to this, Lex was a senior figure in ABP’s Southampton commercial team, where she worked closely with customers across dry bulks, project cargo, automotive, containerised freight, rail and other key sectors.
Lex will be taking over the helm from Paul Litten, who has been appointed as head of commercial for ABP’s Humber region, which includes four ports and represents the UK’s largest gateway for trade with the world by volume.
She started her career at ABP as a graduate management trainee and is a passionate advocate for diversity in the maritime sector and championing career opportunities for women in ports.
She is helping to launch the first-ever Women in Ports mentoring programme, which will take place at the ABP-sponsored Women in Ports LISW Reception during London International Shipping Week on Thursday September 18.
“As someone who’s benefitted from great mentors and colleagues over the years, I’m passionate about creating opportunities for others,” Lex added.
“Attracting and retaining diverse and inclusive teams is not just a nice to have, it is vital if organisations wish to be globally competitive and commercially successful.
“But it is also important for building workplaces that encourage an innovation-led mindset, where colleagues can feel comfortable to contribute ideas and drive continuous improvement. Ports are exciting places to work and I’m proud to be part of a team that’s helping to shape the future of the industry.”
