Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. recently announced the appointment of Hugh L. Simpson as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Simpson will be responsible for working with the Executive Management Team in strategic planning, financial analysis, policy development and deployment, problem resolution, and financial management.

'I am very pleased that Hugh has joined the TOTE management team,' said TOTE President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Deaver. 'His background and expertise with managing numerous fiscal projects will contribute significantly to the goals of our company and its finance, operations and business strategy.'

Prior to joining TOTE, Mr. Simpson served as CFO for Sound Transit in Seattle for seven years. He was also the controller/treasurer for Sound Transit for two years prior. During his time at Sound Transit, Mr. Simpson played a major role in helping the agency budget and plan for the many projects contained in 'Sound Move,' a comprehensive regional transit plan which was adopted in 1996 and is made up of almost 100 separate but interrelated capital and service projects.

'The employees in my department are very well qualified,' Simpson said. 'Everybody I talk to loves working at TOTE, and they love the people here. It's hard to find that. I feel like I've hit a home run.'

After growing up in Northern Idaho, Mr. Simpson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Idaho in 1984 and has worked in finance and accounting since then.

Mr. Simpson replaces TOTE's former Vice President of Finance Dave Bergsvik, who took the position of Director of Tax and Controller at TOTE's Seattle-based parent company, SaltChuk Resources, Inc., last Spring.