Paul J. Martins
Paul J. Martins has been in the transportation industry for more than 30 years and leads the Ascent Global Logistics team and its subsidiary airline, USA Jet.
Ascent, headquartered in Belleville, Michigan, is a leading global provider of expedited, time-critical logistics solutions and other direct transportation services. The Company is uniquely positioned to meet the increasing complexity within global supply chains and connects customers to its extensive carrier network, internal ground fleet and airline via its proprietary, digital PEAK freight marketplace, which provides robust carrier capacity and transparent pricing, backed by 24/7/365 logistics experts. Ascent’s offerings include air charter and ground expedited solutions as well as global forwarding, truckload, less-than-truckload, brokerage, and managed transportation services. The experienced Ascent team solves supply chain challenges for thousands of customers worldwide. Ascent is a recognized supplier of the year for multiple Fortune 500 companies as well as a partner to thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and ranked 28th on the Transport Topics 2023 top 100 Logistics companies.
Prior to his current role at Ascent, Paul served as President and CEO of Global Critical Logistics (GCL), headquartered in Los Angeles. GCL, the holding company for Rock-it Global, DIETL, Dynamic International and several other companies providing high-touch air, ocean and surface freight forwarding and logistics services to various industries including live entertainment, sports, fine arts and film & tv, worldwide.
Prior to GCL, from 2014 – 2019 he was President and CEO of MNX Global Logistics, where he transformed the company into a premier global provider of specialized transportation services in medical, biopharmaceutical, cellular therapies, life science and aerospace/aviation industries. Thereafter, he became Chairman of the Board of Advisors for MNX. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Smartways, a healthcare logistics company based in Sydney, Australia, backed by the Riverside Company. Paul has also partnered with Private Equity firms like Riverside Company, Audax Group and H.I.G. Capital during his career.
Additionally, Paul spent 16 years at UPS holding senior-level positions, including Director of UPS Air Cargo and Director of UPS Airlines. He also served as COO and President of Mercury Air Cargo as well as President of TNS/Towne Air Freight.
Paul is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Executive Leadership Programs at Bellarmine University in Louisville and Emory University in Atlanta. His charitable activities include serving on the boards of Special Olympics, the United Way and Coaches vs. Cancer.