Watco Australia West Honoring Retirees

The Watco Australia West Perth team enjoyed their annual Christmas celebration December 2. As part of the celebration, which featured a game of bowls (also called lawn bowling), Ken Potts was presented with a retirement gift in recognition of his dedication to Watco for almost 10 years.

Watco expanded internationally in 2010, with a long-term contract to provide comprehensive rail logistics services in Western Australia. Those operations began in 2012. In 2020, Watco added an East Coast operation that today handles grain, livestock, and shunting operations for steelworks.

As executive director-Australia, Potts played significant roles in the 2016 purchase of Intermodal Group (IMG), a provider of containerized freight movement, and container storage and handling, as well as steelmaker BlueScope and GrainCorp, a leading Australian agribusiness and processing company. Potts also led other business development opportunities.

“Ken is extremely well known and respected across the Australian rail industry,” said Gavin Bignell, chief executive officer for Watco Australia. “He led numerous business development opportunities for Watco Australia, many of which were awarded to our company over long-standing incumbents.”

Potts is working about a day a week as he transitions into retirement. “I’m about 90% of the way there,” he said. When the time comes, “I want to do some community work for the homeless and all that sort of stuff. That’s the plan.”

Potts said he had enjoyed his time at Watco. He had praise for the Watco influence on how customers are treated and called it “a very good thing for the rail industry.”

“It’s been a tremendous journey. I’m very proud of the business and will always, even when I fully retire, have a soft spot. I want to see the Australia business grow well. It’ll be a success. It just takes time to build it, that’s all. If I can help in any way, I will.”

Another champion of the Watco Australia business, Kevin O’Neill, could not attend the Christmas gathering but also plans to retire in the new year.

O’Neill started with Watco Australia almost seven years ago and “has worked tirelessly across all Watco’s businesses,” said Bignell. “Kevin was key in getting the BlueScope and GrainCorp accounts. He also was instrumental in developing the cattle train service.”

O’Neill said Potts influenced him to join Watco Australia. “After having worked together at a competitive rail firm for many years, Ken Potts asked me to join Watco in early 2016. I jumped at the opportunity to work with Pottsy again. The first thing I learned – and loved – is the absolute focus on customers first.

“My key learning at Watco? Watco attracts great people and then enables them to do a great job. Trust your teammates and look out for each other. I also just want to thank all my teammates for basically being great!

“After I retire, I intend to spend more time with my family. In particular, we will spend more time in the Margaret River region south of Perth (bushwalks, forests, beaches, surfing, artisan food, wineries – what’s not to love?). I’ll also restart some of my old hobbies, including making charcuterie, cheeses, and brewing beer. I am also going to learn to play guitar and – hopefully the neighbors don’t mind - drums!”

Bignell commended the two men for their roles with Watco.

“We wanted Kevin and Ken to know that we are thankful for their significant contributions in helping get Watco Australia started,” said Bignell. “Both have demonstrated great commitment to Watco and our customers, especially by staying on as long as is required to ensure a transition to new leadership.”

Potts’ and O’Neill’s retirement dates aren’t set, but both plan to retire in early 2023.

Pictured Above: Watco Australia CEO Gavin Bignell presents Ken Potts with a personalized, framed photo of a Watco Australia train. Potts, executive director-Australia, is retiring in early 2023.