The Power List was the headline feature story in the very first issue of BusinessCar back in 2006, and rarely has it seen as much year-on-year change as this year.
More than a third of the names in last year’s Power List are gone for one reason or another (see ‘Gone from the 2016 list’ on page four), driven in part by the massive recent shifts in the UK political landscape, as well as some heavyweight personnel changes at manufacturers, leasing firms and within other key areas of the marketplace.
The Power List is purely our interpretation of the industry, helped by the most recent numbers for leasing company and manufacturer volumes, and it is intended to get people talking about the business, where influence lies, and the direction in which the industry is travelling.
Others will probably see things differently because in a sector as fluid, dynamic and varied as ours, there are bound to be a range of opinions.
50 – David Hosking (New entry)
Tusker – Chief executive
Leasing firm boss Hosking has entered the list because of Tusker’s role as a salary-sacrifice specialist, the benefit that allows generally lower-paid workers access to cleaner and safer vehicles they might not otherwise be able to afford.
The Government is investigating whether such schemes deprive the Treasury of too much revenue, and Tusker’s part in a their defence will have an impact on its own business and the industry as a whole.
49 – Jon Wackett (New entry)
Jaguar Land Rover – General manager, fleet and business sales
A big growth in sales last year is likely to be followed by something similar in 2016. The new Jaguar XE, XF and F-pace, joined by Land Rover Discovery Sport and revised Evoque, give a line-up with genuine company car appeal, and plenty of work has gone on behind the scenes to make sure running costs match or in some cases beat the best the German prestige brands can offer.
48 – Edmund King (New entry)
The AA – President
The AA’s influence stretches across much more than vehicle recovery, with accident management, insurance, driver training and risk management all within King’s remit as president. The latest addition of an app that helps patrols find stranded vehicles is claimed to have shaved five minutes off the response time.
47 – Nina Bell (Down two)
Avis-Budget UK – Managing director
Now more than 18 months into heading up the UK, as well as Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Bell celebrates 20 years with Avis next year. The firm has added a specific van channel, and operates out of around 160 locations nationwide.
46 – Henry Brace (New entry)
BT Fleet – Managing director
Brace replaced David Bowen and stepped up to the top job in July, having joined BT Fleet in October 2014 as finance director. He now heads an organisation on the edge of the top dozen leasing companies in the UK.
45 – David Martell (Up one)
Chargemaster – Managing director
It’s been another busy year for one of the most vocal members of the electric vehicle community. A tie-up with The AA to help promote plug-in vehicles, the first installations for Highways England and expansion of the company’s network of rapid chargers in London are just some of the highlights.
44 – Lance Bradley (No change)
Mitsubishi Motors UK – Managing director
The EV debate has intensified since Ecotricity added a fee for using its charge points, in part to discourage plug-in hybrids from clogging up motorway charging stations. As boss of the brand with the biggest-selling plug-in – the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Bradley has lots to say on the subject. The firm will expand its EV offering as new cars arrive, and during 2015 launched a new L200 pick-up, the What Van? LCV of the Year.
43 – Neil Broad (Down three)
Toyota/Lexus – General manager, fleet services
After something of a lull in new product, it’s a very busy period for Broad, with the new Prius and Hilux recently launched, and a new C-HR crossover that the firm has very high hopes for coming before the end of the year.
42 – Bob Contreras (Down five)
Northgate PLC – Chief executive
Northgate strengthened its management team during 2016, adding Eddie Aston as Northgate Vehicle Hire MD and Mike Speakman as operations director. The UK’s largest LCV rental firm made UK pre-tax profits of £77.6m in its 2015-16 financial year, down on the previous year’s £83.0m thanks to a reduction in the number of UK vehicles it has on hire.
41 – Bob Middleton (Down three)
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services – Managing director
Things are soon to get interesting for Middleton’s Mercedes-Benz leasing arm following parent company Daimler’s acquisition of major international leasing band Athlon, which doesn’t currently operate in the UK. At the time the acquisition was announced in July, Daimler confirmed that the UK operation will adopt the Athlon branding once the buyout is complete.
40 – Michiel van Ratingen (Up three)
Euro NCAP – Secretary general
After a few years where every car seemed to gain a perfect five-star rating, a
long-overdue revamp of the European crash-testing process has placed much greater emphasis on active accident prevention systems, bringing the organisation back to a position of pushing manufacturers to make big improvements.
39 – Guy Pigounakis (New entry)
Hyundai – Fleet director
Having replaced Martin Wilson as fleet boss in February, Pigounakis will be tasked with overseeing the next round of growth for the top 10 fleet player, starting with the new lower medium i30 that goes on sale in the UK early next year.
38 – Phil Price (Down three)
IDS Topcalc – Residual values forecasting editor
Price continues to oversee the RV forecasting for whole-life cost specialist IDS in his role as manufacturer liaison for the UK operation of this US-owned company.
37 – Peter Lambert (Down four)
Kwik-Fit – Fleet director
It’s been a comparatively quiet 2016 for the boss of the fast-fit giant’s fleet operation after a couple of years of sustained investment in improving the appearance, facilities and service offering of its network.
36 – Paul Hollick (Down two)
ICFM – Chairman
The Miles Consultancy’s commercial director Hollick has headed the Institute of Car Fleet Management for nearly two years, and has overseen rising membership numbers while improving the quality and quantity of its qualifications, redeveloping its website and building closer ties within the industry.
35 – Jon Lawes (Down three)
Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions – Managing director
Lawes has now headed the UK’s ninth-largest leasing operator for 18 months, having been with the firm for more than 15 years. Hitachi recently sealed an 8500-vehicle deal with Amey to manage the infrastructure firm’s entire fleet.
34 – David Cooper (Down three)
Arnold Clark Vehicle Management – Director
The UK’s number eight leasing firm, which closed to within just over 1000 units of Zenith in 2015, moved to a new 90,000ft2 HQ in Glasgow earlier this year
33 – Tim Buchan (Down three)
Zenith – Managing director
The leasing firm formed from the private equity acquisitions of both Zenith and Leasedrive dropped the latter’s branding early this year, and is, according to newspaper reports, putting out feelers with regard to a potential sale by current owner Hg Capital.
32 – Avril Palmer-Baunack (New entry)
BCA – Executive chairman
The driving force behind BCA’s moves since it was acquired by private equity firm Haversham Holdings in April 2015, Palmer-Baunack has overseen numerous acquisitions by the parent company of the UK’s dominant auction player, which also owns the Webuyanycar brand.
31 – David Davis (New entry)
Secretary of state for leaving the European Union
Following the Brexit vote and subsequent change of Tory party leadership, the new position of a minister in charge of handling the UK’s exit was created. MP for the Yorkshire constituency of Haltemprice and Howden, Eurosceptic Davis took the role in July, and will handle negotiations on the economically pivotal action of withdrawing from the EU.
30 – Mike Williams (Down one)
HM Treasury – Director, business and international tax
As HM Treasury seeks to increase its revenues from company car drivers, the likes of salary-sacrifice schemes are appearing on radars along with the increases in benefit-in-kind taxation.
>> Click ‘next’ to see the next page in our countdown of the most influentional people in fleet.
29 – Oliver Morley (Down one)
DVLA – Chief executive
The DVLA has been through a period of change with the abolishment of the paper counterpart of the driving licence and the paper tax disc, and seems to be looking to engage with the industry in how it moves forward with increased automation and efficiency.
28 – Ken McCall (Down two)
Europcar – Managing director
The company is continuing to develop its range of offerings, including the launch of new van specialist centres last autumn, the addition of Alfa Romeo’s glamorous 4C sports car to its Selection luxury division, and the recent acquisition of the London-based Brunel corporate ride-hailing service.
27 – Adrian Bewley (Down two)
Enterprise – Director of business rental
The BusinessCar rental firm of the year for 10 years in a row, Enterprise is, under Bewley’s stewardship, looking to expand its business offering, as witnessed by the acquisitions of the Burnt Tree LCV and City Car Club brands, now known as Enterprise Flex-E-Rent and Enterprise Car Club, respectively.
26 – Darren Payne (Re-entry)
Nissan – UK sales director
Payne returns to our chart, having previously appeared in his role as Renault sales boss. He moved across to the same role with Renault’s sister brand Nissan in April, and his early tasks will include making a success of the new Micra and NV300 medium van.
25 – Rob East (New entry)
Mercedes-Benz – Head of fleet sales
Officially appointed in July, East previously served Mercedes as national fleet sales manager. He has been with the company, which is looking to overhaul BMW and Audi at the top of the premium brand charts, since February 2009.
24 – Peter Bridgen (Down one)
Fleetcor UK – Managing director, fuelcards
Bridgen continues to oversee the development of the UK’s leading fuelcard company, as it seeks to expand into other payment solutions. Chip and pin is now completely rolled out, and the firm recently added a cheap diesel locator to its upgraded app, flagging when a driver is near to one of its discount diesel forecourts that offer a lower pence-per-litre fuel price.
23 – David Maloney (New entry)
Volkswagen Financial Services – Chief executive
Maloney took the VWFS UK top job in May. A long-term VWFS man, he moved from the previous role of head of region Europe West, overseeing the markets in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Ireland, and headed VWFS Australia prior to that. VWFS briefly moved above Arval into the top five UK leasing firms last year, but the addition of GE Capital’s vehicle fleet to Arval has seen VWFS revert back to sixth place
22 – Mel Dawson (Down three)
ALD Automotive – Managing director
Dawson has headed the UK’s fifth-largest leasing firm since the beginning of 2013, having joined the company 17 years earlier from Ford Credit. Last year, ALD added almost 12,000 units to its fleet, taking it to over 117,000 vehicles.
21- James Douglas (Down three)
Audi – Fleet sales director
Douglas is now approaching four years as fleet boss of the UK’s second biggest-selling premium fleet brand, and has had a busy year with the arrival of the new A4 in late 2015 and new Q7 earlier this year. The pace of development continues over the next few months with the new Q2 crossover creating another niche, and the new versions of the Audi A5 also imminent.
20 – Richard Hudson (New entry)
BMW – Sales director
The UK’s biggest premium player in fleet is currently recruiting a new fleet boss following Matt Bristow’s departure to join BCA, so in the short term Richard Hudson is handling the fleet department as part of his role overseeing all sales operations in the UK and Ireland.
19 – Michael Hawes (Up one)
SMMT – Chief executive
Hawes’s role as spokesperson for the automotive industry will be tested over the next months with topics including diesel fuel, the introduction of real-world economy testing, and Government moves to change the taxation on ultra-low emission vehicles all rearing their heads and requiring somebody to act in the best interests of the marketplace.
18 – Martin Gurney (New entry)
Peugeot – Citroen Automobiles director fleet & used vehicle operations
Having successfully overseen the amalgamation of the three PSA brands of Peugeot, Citroen and DS into one sales organisation, Gurney is now ready for some serious new product, with the arrival of the 3008 and 5008 crossover models on the horizon as well as establishing the new Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert medium vans that recently landed on UK roads.
17 – Yinka Oyesiku (New entry)
HMRC – Policy advisor
Oyesiku takes over from Alistair Dougans as a guiding hand in the HMRC policy decisions that impact upon the company car marketplace.
16 – Denis Keenan (Down two)
KeeResources – Managing director
One of the most well-connected and knowledgable men in the industry, Keenan’s KeeResources organisation continues to develop its reputation and client base with its provision of a wealth of industry data.
15 – Michael O’Shea (Down two)
Volkswagen – Head of VW Fleet
It’s been a challenging 12 months for VW since the diesel emissions scandal first broke in the US, but O’Shea has piloted the fleet division through the choppy waters and enjoyed new product launches including the Touran and Tiguan.
14 – Martin Ward (Down three)
Cap – Manufacturer relations manager
Ward’s experienced and forthright views on how brands plan their new model line-ups can help shape a vehicle’s landing on, and their suitability for, UK fleets.
13 – Rupert Pontin – (Re-entry)
Glass’s – Director of Valuations
Staff changes at Glass’s with the departure of Ed Hummel and a promotion to director of valuations see us include the knowledgeable and increasingly vocal Pontin in this run-down of fleet’s most influential parties as Glass’s steps up its activities across the industry.
12 – John Pryor (Down two)
ACFO – Chairman
Arcadia Group’s fleet and travel manager was re-elected as chairman of the fleet operators’ trade association for a fourth year this summer, and continues to bang the drum for an organisation that allows people with fleet responsibilities to “discuss key issues with like-minded colleagues who collectively have a wealth of knowledge and experience”.
11 – Sadiq Khan (New entry)
City of London – Mayor
A seemingly calmer presence than his predecessor Boris Johnson, Khan has nonetheless already revealed plans to bring forward the implementation of the latest ultra-low emissions zone by a year to 2019, and his decisions on addressing the issue of air quality will have ramifications far outside of the country’s capital.
The pollution-curbing consultation coming next month will include the potential measures of expanding the ULEZ to cover everywhere inside the North and South Circular road routes and developing a proposal for a nationwide diesel-scrappage scheme, as well as pulling forward the additional £10 daily charge for pre-Euro4 emissions regulation vehicles to enter the ULEZ.
>> Click ‘next’ to see the 10 most influential people in fleet.
10 – Gerry Keaney (Down one)
BVRLA – Chief executive
The leasing and rental body, now led by Keaney for more than three years, is increasingly vocal on defending its members’ interests, especially as the diesel air pollution debate continues to rage and the Government is consulting on the future tax treatment of salary-sacrifice cars and ultra-low CO2 vehicles. The BVRLA is also broadening its research and training activity, revising its funding and fair wear-and-tear guides, and expanding its accredited and independent mediation service.
9 – James Taylor (Down one)
Vauxhall – Fleet sales director
Following the launch of the highly rated new Astra a year ago, eyes are beginning to turn to the new Insignia due in 2017, with Vauxhall safely settled in second spot for UK fleet sales, at 146,601 last year – more than 37,000 units behind Ford, but over 27,000 ahead of VW. The breadth of its range seems a key Vauxhall success, with the Astra, Corsa, Mokka and Insignia all inside the top 10 fleet models.
8 – Nicholas Brownrigg (New entry)
Alphabet GB – Chief executive
Brownrigg joined Alphabet’s UK operation in June 2016 to replace Richard Schooling, coming from Dubai-based ALJ Group, where he was chief executive for Pre-Owned Vehicles within the Middle East’s largest automotive group. He will be tasked with driving Alphabet’s continued push into more mobility solutions and innovative use of tech to secure growth, particularly in the areas of car sharing and plug-in vehicles.
7 – Benoit Dilly (Down three)
Arval – Chief executive
With the acquisition of GE Capital’s car leasing book confirmed last November, Arval jumped into the top four leasing firms in the UK, although the dust is still settling in terms of where the combined fleet will put Arval when compared with Leaseplan’s 147,000 fleet and the 140,000-book Alphabet boasts. Depending on how much wastage there has been, a fleet of around 145,000 seems the smartest bet.
6 – Matt Dyer (No change)
Leaseplan UK – Managing director
Dyer is now two and a half years in to running the UK’s number two leasing company, which had more than 147,000 vehicles on its books at our last count. The Euro 3.7bn acquisition of Leaseplan’s parent firm by a consortium of investors including Dutch and Danish pension providers, was completed in March this year, while in the UK, Dyer has recently appointed a new boss of the company’s Network broker division in Tom Brewer.
5 – Owen Gregory (New entry)
Ford – Director, fleet operations
Gregory moved to head up Ford’s UK fleet operations in July. Previously in Germany since 2014 as European brand manager for the Focus, C-max and Kuga, he will be tasked with maintaining the brand’s number one position in both fleet and LCVs. He has joined at a relatively quite time product-wise, with a new Fiesta at least a year away as the next major all-new model.
4 – Elzbieta Bienkowska (New entry)
European Commission – European commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs
Bienkowska is the minister most responsible for the car industry, and specifically delivering the new Real Driving Emissions tests that will replace the current new car efficiency tests so heavily criticised for not reflecting what motorists are able to achieve on the road. From 1 September 2017 the RDE tests will determine whether a newly developed car gets type approval, and by September 2019 all new vehicles will have to conform.
3 – Tim Porter (No change)
Lex Autolease – Managing director
The UK’s dominant leasing company shows no signs of releasing its relentless grip on the UK contract hire market, recording growth of more than 12,000 vehicles in the first half of 2016 despite already boasting over double the number of vehicles on its books than the second-placed leasing business. The latest total is 329,865 units, including more than 10,000 alternative-fuelled vehicles.
Tim Porter has led the company since March 2013, and the first half of 2016 saw good growth in small and medium-sized fleet business, with the broker division passing the 60,000-vehicle delivery mark. The company has, though, closed its two remarketing sites in the West Midlands this year, channelling instead through BCA.
2 – Chris Grayling (New entry)
Government – Transport secretary
Epsom and Ewell MP Grayling became secretary of state for transport in Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle, having previously served as leader of the House of Commons. The Department for Transport is the driving force behind a range of plans, investments and schemes that have a huge impact on the ease of business car operation.
Its big issue to address is the fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the knock-on effects on diesel fuel’s reputation and on the way emissions tests are carried out. Attitudes and expectations around the new classifications will be largely shaped by the way the DfT approaches the situation, and the education message about vehicle emissions ratings changes will be key to widespread acceptance. Ultra-low emission vehicles and the grant incentives around their adoption are also under Grayling’s control, as are the more widespread adoption of so-called ‘smart motorways’.
And if that wasn’t enough, Grayling’s department also has the responsibility of dealing with the autonomous driving issues in terms of how legislation will keep pace with development and how these vehicles will make their way safely onto UK roads.
1 – Phillip Hammond (Re-entry)
Government – Chancellor
The new chancellor makes a return to the sharp end of our Power List having previously placed 13th five years ago due to his position as transport secretary, a role he held for 18 months until late 2011. But now he’s back in a position where the impact on UK fleet operation could be huge, as Theresa May’s chancellor.
And he comes in at a time where the pressure on company car drivers is being ramped up thanks to hefty benefit-in-kind increases that have the potential to reduce the attractiveness of company cars, with the perception being that CO2 reductions by manufacturers were faster-paced than the Government expected, so revenues need to be recouped.
Then there’s the issue of electric vehicles, and the active consultation on what to do with BIK incentives on ultra-low emission vehicles to ensure they remain attractive while still paying their way as they become more mainstream. Plus, there’s another consultation currently seeking responses with regards to what to do about salary-sacrifice schemes, with the fleet industry in the midst of a robust defence of car sal-sac, which is being assessed along with some other salary-sacrifice arrangements to see if there’s an argument for them being too tax-advantageous.
This is all without mentioning the proposed Vehicle Excise Duty changes coming next April, the constantly thorny issue of fuel duty, or the wider tax, spending and budgetary policies and if they enable businesses to thrive and grow. We’ll find out in November’s autumn statement what Hammond’s early plans are, and which areas he’s looking to target first. It will be an interesting speech.
>> Click ‘next’ to see the names that didn’t make the cut this year.
Gone from the 2016 list
There are 19 people that appeared in our 2015 Power List that aren’t present in 2016, mainly because they’ve moved on to pastures new.
It’s been all-change for politicians, with last year’s table including then-chancellor George Osborne, former transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin (now Conservative party chairman) and outgoing London mayor Boris Johnson (now foreign secretary).
The car manufacturers have been busy too, with Ford, BMW, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai all appointing a new fleet boss in the past 12 months, so Nick Themistocleous (retired), Matt Bristow (moved to BCA), Barry Beeston (moved to Infiniti), Nick Andrews (now Merc remarketing director) and Martin Wilson (promoted to Hyundai sales director), respectively, have been replaced on this list.
Likewise, Alphabet’s Richard Schooling and Dave Bowen of BT Fleet have moved up internally, and Graham Wheeler has left VW Financial Services to join Jaguar Land Rover.
European and US politicians respectively Voileta Bulc and Gina McCarthy also slide off the chart as the dust settles on the VW emissions scandal, with VW Group fleet boss Steve Catlin dropping for the same reason. Ed Hummel left Glass’s early this year and Alistair Dougans is no longer the policy man at HMRC.
The other names not present this year are former BCA top man Spencer Lock, ARI Fleet’s Keith Allen and Jane Urquhart, the driving force behind Nottingham’s now well-established workplace parking levy.
Previous Power Lists:
