One of the transportation/logistics industry's most visible sales and marketing executives is changing hats.

Thomas Nightingale, vice president of communications and chief marketing officer at Con-way Inc., has joined ModusLink Global Solutions Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based third-party logistics service provider, in the new position of president, sales and marketing. Nightingale, who will lead ModusLink's global sales and marketing efforts, joins the company Dec. 15.

Nightingale spent five and a half years at Con-way. Prior to joining Con-way, Nightingale held positions at Schneider National Inc., CSX Corp., and UPS Inc., among others. He has been one of the most prominent proponents of advancing the role of sales and marketing in an industry largely driven by operations and information technology imperatives.

"I am pleased to bring aboard an experienced and respected leader to take the helm of our sales and marketing organization," said Joseph C. Lawler, president and chief executive officer of ModusLink, in a statement. "Tom has the right mix of industry experience and sales and marketing acumen to build our market position and accelerate our plans for new business growth.

"ModusLink is well respected in the industry for its work with the world's leading brands and offers clients a breadth and depth of capabilities that go well beyond that of a traditional 3PL," said Nightingale.

ModusLink specializes in supply chain management, e-commerce solutions, and aftermarket services.