A Head for Logistics, a Heart for People: Meet Morrows’ new GM: Val Teles
Born in France, Val Teles didn’t start with logistics in mind.
“I was studying marketing and management at university,” he says. “Then at 20, I moved to China for an exchange program and ended up staying two years.”
It was there that he discovered how much he loved working across cultures. “I learned Chinese and really enjoyed the multicultural aspect,” Val says. “It was such a good challenge and made me want to keep working in the international environment.”
A new subject caught his eye when he returned to France to complete his final year. “There was a course on logistics and supply chain, and I thought, this is interesting,” he says. “It was more hands-on and practical than marketing, something I could see myself doing.”
After graduating, Val wanted to keep studying and living internationally. “I wanted to study in English, but I didn’t want to go to the US, and the UK felt too close,” he says. “So I chose Australia for my Master’s in Logistics and Supply Chain. It felt like the right mix of challenge and opportunity.”
Learning the Business, Floor to Ceiling
Val began his career at Mainfreight through its graduate program. “It started on the floor, learning the basics and seeing how everything actually works,” he says.
From there, he moved into national customer projects and later managed warehouse facilities. “Funnily enough, I looked after the Noble Park warehouse,” Val says. “We had about 120 people there, and after a few years, we turned it into the most profitable site.”
He then took on a national customer retention role, managing around $150 million in revenue. “I’ve always been interested in automation,” he says. “Even back then, I was unofficially looking after Mainfreight’s automation project.”
Innovation in Action
After 11 years, Val joined Safer Storage Systems as Head of Automation. “It was about designing, selling and implementing automated warehouse systems — big, complex projects,” he says. “I worked closely with suppliers in China and brought that knowledge back.”
Shaping the Road Ahead
A few months into his new role as General Manager at Morrows Logistics, Val is focused on people, process and growth.
“The first month has been about meeting the team, understanding how things work and what makes people tick,” he says. “The goal is to have everything in place to grow the business. It’s about understanding the daily operations, the costs, who does what, and working with the team to align around the plan.”
He adds, “It feels very comfortable, and clear on what needs to be done to help further the company’s potential. There are great people here, strong foundations, and it only takes a few tweaks to move things forward.”
Away from the Warehouse
When he’s not thinking about logistics, Val is outdoors. “Fishing, playing chess, spending time in the garden — I like doing things that are creative and connected to nature,” he says. “I’m a curious person. I like discovering and learning new things, and challenging myself.”