KEY appointments in the fleet industry.

  • THRIFTY Car Rental UK has boosted its marketing team by appointing Charles Wilson as e-commerce manager following the success of its website.

    Wilson will be responsible for maintaining relations with existing affiliation partners and attracting new ones, while increasing search engine optimisation.

    He brings with him e-commerce experience gained from running his own company website and from providing consulting services for an online business.

  • DRIVER training firm Drive & Survive has welcomed back Andy Neale as general manager.

    Neale was part of the company’s early development and joined shortly after Paul Catlin formed it back in 1984, having served in the traffic division of Thames Valley Police and then run his own learner driver business.

    At Drive & Survive he fulfilled all major departmental management roles until he was appointed to the board as director of events in 1997.

    He assumed the position of managing director in 1999 but left in 2003 to pursue his own interests in the driving events business.

  • CHRIS Gibbons has joined Custom Fleet as acquisitions manager, responsible for buying more than 10,000 new vehicles a year. Gibbons has more than 18 years’ experience in purchasing and was previously purchasing manager for PFB Self Drive in Birmingham.

    He will be based at Custom Fleet’s head office in Carlisle and will be responsible for all new vehicle purchasing activity as well as new systems development.

    He will report to trade services manager Nick Auld.

    Twenty question with: Graham Short Car fleet manager, Indesit Company UK

    1. Fleet size – 450 cars/1,000 vans – all diesel
    2. Who are your main car suppliers? Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, GM, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi & Honda
    3. Who are your main van suppliers? Ford
    4. Do you lease or purchase vehicles? Contract hire
    5. Do you use fuel cards? Yes, for vans (BP). Car drivers pay and reclaim
    6. Do you offer drivers a cash for car scheme? Yes
    7. Are there any alternatively-fuelled vehicles operating on your fleet? No – they’re available but there’s very little interest at the moment
    8. What is the biggest work challenge you will face in the next year? Trying to maintain high standards at reduced costs
    9. If you were Transport Minister for the day, what would you change? I would make driver education programmes compulsory for all drivers (not just company car drivers)
    10. What is your best career moment? Implementation of diesel/alternative fuel policy
    11. What is your worst/most embarrassing career moment? When my boss’s new car arrived with the wrong spec
    12. Which living person do you most admire and why? My wife, for her support and tolerance
    13. What was your first car? Vauxhall Viva HB – it seemed like a good idea then
    14. What is your current car? Volvo S40
    15. What is your dream car? Aston Martin DB9
    16. Where is your favourite holiday destination? Italy
    17. Which three records would you take on a desert island? Elvis, Anastasia and some 80s disco
    18. What is your favourite film? The Green Mile
    19. What is your favourite book? I tend to prefer autobiographies
    20. What are your favourite hobbies? Time with the family, football, golf, swimming and supporting CAMRA