YRC Worldwide Inc. announced that Darren Hawkins has been appointed chief executive officer. Prior to this appointment, he served in the transitional role of president and chief operating officer of YRC Worldwide after serving as president of YRC Freight.

Mr. Hawkins is replacing James Welch who previously announced his intention to retire from the company. In order to ensure a smooth transition, Mr. Welch will continue to serve on the board of directors and remain employed as a senior advisor through July 31, 2018.

“Since the time I announced my intention to retire, the pace of the transition has gone extremely well and I believe that it’s the right time to complete the transition,” stated Welch. “With Darren’s leadership, I believe YRC Worldwide and our 32,000 employees are well positioned for success.”