Australian transport company Gold Tiger Logistics Solutions has announced it will be closing.
After 20 years in business, founder Imad El Masri announced he will be “closing this chapter of the company’s journey”.
El Masri says he has made the “deeply personal decision” to step away from the transport industry to focus on his health, wellbeing and family.
“Gold Tiger has been my life’s work for 20 years,” he says.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, but it’s time to prioritise my family and my health. That’s the most important investment I can make now.”
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As part of this transition, Gold Tiger’s fleet and equipment will be sold through Pickles, who has been a long-standing partner to the business from its earliest days.
“Loyalty matters to me. I bought my first truck through Pickles, so it felt right to finish this journey where it started,” he says.
Gold Tiger was first established in 2006 when El Masri, at 19 years old, bought his first truck to begin operating as an owner and driver.
This led to a national logistics business that moved more than 250,000 tonnes of freight annually across the country.
Under El Masri’s leadership, Gold Tiger built relationships across industries including FMCG, manufacturing, retail and healthcare, with a focus on quality service, strong partnerships and accountability.
The founder says he’ll now focus on property development projects, which he has been involved in alongside the business in recent years.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I started Gold Tiger when I was 19 years old with one truck, a lot of ambition and a passion for the transport industry. Over the last 20 years, that one truck became a national fleet, a team of incredible people and relationships that I will always value,” El Masri says.
“Gold Tiger has truly been my baby. But building and running a business at this scale for so long comes with sacrifices. The long hours, the pressure and the responsibility have taken a toll on my health and wellbeing over time. Eventually I had to be honest with myself about what matters most. My family has supported me through everything – and now it’s my turn to be present for them.
“Walking away is not easy. I feel proud, grateful and emotional all at the same time. But I also feel confident that it’s the right decision for this stage of my life. I want to thank every employee, customer, supplier and partner who has been part of this journey. You helped build something special.
“And to Pickles – thank you for being part of the journey from the very beginning. From my first truck to my last, loyalty matters. I’m proud of what we built. Now it’s time to focus on what matters most. This isn’t the end for me – just the start of a new chapter.”
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