Customs Support Group appoints Ruth Benbow as head of trade advisory for UK&IE

A global trade expert has been appointed to a new senior role at Europe’s leading independent customs broker.

Ruth Benbow has joined Customs Support Group (CSG) as Head of Trade Advisory for its UK and Ireland business, bringing extensive experience to the role from both sides of the Atlantic.

Following previous roles at Santander UK and White & Case, Ruth brings her broad expertise to CSG’s growing advisory capability at a critical time, as customs becomes a growing boardroom topic.

CSG says trade regulation, geopolitical uncertainty, CBAM, EUDR and post-Brexit complexity are increasingly driving customs and trade issues into legal, finance and supply chain leadership discussions.

The ability to support businesses in this ever-changing world is Ruth’s brief, giving them the tools to manage risk effectively and turn compliance into a strategic advantage.

She said: “I think we’re entering one of the most interesting periods customs has seen in decades. For years the focus was on reacting to change, whether that was Brexit, COVID or supply chain disruption. Now the conversation is shifting towards what the future of trade should look like.

“Customs sits right in the middle of that discussion. It’s where politics, economics, technology and logistics all collide. The businesses that understand that, and invest accordingly, will have a real competitive advantage.

“That’s what excited me about joining Customs Support Group. The market is evolving, expectations are changing, and there is a real opportunity to help businesses turn customs from a challenge into a strategic asset.”

Ruth has developed a particular interest in the intersection between sustainability and trade, looking into the impact of emerging regulations such as CBAM and EUDR.

“CBAM is a clear example of the challenge businesses face – it’s the same acronym, but two totally different systems in two places. In the UK, it’s a tax and it’s based on value. In the EU, it’s a very complicated certificate system based on tonnage,” she said.

“Tariffs are another good example. Early in my career, tariffs were dying off and we were all globalising. Barriers were coming down left, right, and centre. Now we’ve got Trump using tariffs we haven’t seen for 150 years – so things many thought were going away are coming back in a big way.

“There’s also a very interesting challenge around how we bring ESG and big business together. You have people who are passionate about ESG and making the world a better place running into something organised, an agreed system the world recognises.

“With all this in mind, I think a lot of companies are recognising the challenge and opportunity in maturing their trade function, whether it’s just understanding the different customs special procedures and how we can help you manage duties in that way.”

Ruth believes her passion for trade was shaped by a family legacy rooted in the sector and a longstanding fascination with the forces that drive international commerce.

She said: “Trade has always been part of my world, and that exposure gave me a natural curiosity about how businesses, economies and supply chains connect across borders. That curiosity ultimately became a career.

“What I love about this industry is that there is always something new to understand. It’s a field that combines policy, economics, logistics and problem-solving, which is probably why I happily admit to being a bit of a trade nerd.

“I like to horizon scan. That’s my favourite part of my job, just looking at what Trump is tweeting, what Mark Carney is saying, what’s happening in Europe and what’s coming down the road.

“This will help me decide on what kind of advice I can offer. What industries is this going to impact? How is it going to impact them? And what are the different pieces that I can help with?”

Ruth shared her expertise at Customs Support Group’s UK Forum, held at the Møller Institute at the University of Cambridge earlier this month, where she chaired a round table entitled The Next Chapter of UK Trade Policy.

She said: “The world of customs and compliance is a small one, with a huge thirst for knowledge. The Forum was a great opportunity to bring like-minded people together to share their insight and discuss the challenges they face on a daily basis.

“The panel I hosted generated some lively and informative discussion and really demonstrated the value of bringing together a variety of perspectives on complex issues.”

Keiron Myall, UK&IE managing director at Customs Support Group, said: “As regulatory complexity increases, businesses are looking for more strategic guidance.

“Ruth’s appointment reinforces CSG’s commitment to providing the expertise organisations need to manage risk, identify opportunity and build resilient international trade operations.”