Randall C. Poppell has taken on the additional role of Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning for UniGroup, Inc., the parent company of United Van Lines and other transportation-related companies. Poppell currently serves as the company’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), which he will continue in addition to his new responsibility. The announcement was made by Richard H. McClure, president of UniGroup.

In his new capacity, Poppell will lead the company’s executive management team and the Board of Directors in developing strategic objectives and implementing long-range strategic plans.

Poppell has more than 27 years of progressive experience in information technology. Before joining UniGroup in 2001 as CIO, Poppell was Senior Vice President and CIO for GenAmerica Financial where his career spanned 10 years and included a number of executive management roles. Prior to that, he served in progressively responsible positions for 12 years at McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

Poppell holds a bachelor’s degree from Murray State University, Murray, Ky., and a master’s degree in computer resource management from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. He is a member of the American Management Association (AMA) and the Society for Information Management (SIM).

UniGroup, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest privately owned transportation companies. Its world headquarters offices are located in Fenton, Mo.