Fleet operator organisation Acfo has announced that its chairman John Pryor is to resign.
Pryor, who has been an Acfo board member since 2006 and chairman since 2014, will officially stand down from the organisation at its AGM in June.
Pryor’s decision comes as he nears retirement from his job as fleet and travel manager for Arcadia Group.
He said: “I am taking retirement from Arcadia after 30 years so will no longer be involved on a daily basis in the world of fleet operations or the growing strength of mobility.
“It therefore seemed to me to be inappropriate to continue as both a director and chairman.”
Pryor said that with great changes currently affecting the fleet industry, a body like Acfo was needed now more than ever.
He said: “Fleet management is changing at a pace never seen before and the arrival of mobility-as-a-service, ‘big data’ and vehicle connectivity, plug-in vehicles and the eventual arrival of autonomous vehicles, [will] deliver new challenges for fleet managers to embrace – in addition to established, but ever-changing ones, around taxation and legislation.
“Therefore, I believe that Acfo requires its chairman and directors to be actively involved in fleet on a full-time basis, both to promote the organisation and its members’ views, and to promote fleet management as an industry and a career.”
Pryor is to leave Arcadia on 31 August.
He added: “I would like to thank all past and present Acfo members for the support they have given me over many years.
“Networking and learning from each other is one of the many benefits that Acfo offers its members who, as fleet managers, frequently function in a silo within their respective organisations.
“I have loved every minute of my time with Acfo over more than 25 years and learned so much. I would encourage everyone who has fleet responsibility in whatever size of fleet to join and support the organisation, which I wish well for the future.”
Pryor’s departure follows the retirement of Phil Redman in December (Stewart Lightbody has filled this position by co-option in the interim period), leaving Acfo needing to fill three director seats. The third position comes from Richard Baird being due for re-election because of a three-yearly rotation.
A members’ ballot will elect three new directors at the upcoming AGM.
