BVRLA appoints Nina Bell as first female vice-chair

Nina Bell, managing director of Avis Budget Group for the UK and Scandinavia, and Zipcar UK, has been announced as the first female vice-chair of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).

Bell will replace Simon Oliphant and will occupy the position for a year, before progressing to chair in 2019.

Current BVRLA chair Matt Dyer said: “Nina has made a significant contribution to the sector in her role as managing director of Avis Budget UK and she has made a valued contribution on the BVRLA board since 2015. We are delighted to announce her as our first ever female vice-chair.”

Bell commented: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to play a more active role within the BVRLA and give back to the industry I have worked in for over 20 years. I am especially proud to be the first female vice-chair. We are seeing an increasing number of women across the industry, and I believe that my appointment underlines the Association’s commitment to ensure representation of our very broad and diverse member base.”

Joining Bell on the committee of management will be Margaret Speirs from Arnold Clark, who takes up the role of chair of the BVRLA rental committee.

Louisa Bell, general manager of Avis Budget UK, becomes vice chair of the rental committee.

Tribute to the late Freddie Aldous

As the association welcomes new blood to the top of the organisation, it has been paying tribute to one of its founding fathers, the late BVRLA honorary life president Freddie Aldous, who passed away in December 2017.

In recognition of the contribution made by Aldous to the sector and more specifically the BVRLA, the association will be naming its conference room the Freddie Aldous Room. The room will feature a number of appropriate dedications.

The association is also introducing the Freddie Aldous Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented annually at the association’s illustrious industry dinner. The individual will be nominated by the committee of management and the award will recognise outstanding contribution to the development of the association and the sector. The commemorations have been arranged in full agreement with Aldous’s family, who were “touched and delighted” to hear of the plans.