Venson appoints new management board

Venson Automotive Solutions has created a new management board as the vehicle leasing and fleet management specialist seeks to expand.

The new board will largely focus on managing day-to-day issues that impact on the company and its fleet customers, while simultaneously supporting the unchanged executive board that will handle long-term business strategy.

Venson Automotive Solutions’ executive board is composed of managing director Samantha Roff, sales director Simon Staton and Anthony Richman, previously financial director and now appointed to the new post of commercial director. Additionally, John Bateson, sits on the board in a non-executive capacity as the representative of company owner Dermot Desmond.

Together Ms Roff, Mr Staton and Mr Richman have almost 50 years vehicle leasing and fleet management experience with Thames Ditton-based Venson Automotive Solutions, which has around 11,000 company cars, light commercial vehicles and specialist vehicles on its books operated by the private and public sectors and ‘blue light’ fleets.

Below the executive board is the newly created management board, which is composed of recent appointments Carl Stephens (director of supplier management) and Ian Nicholson (finance director). They are supported by marketing consultant Alison Bell.

Ms Roff said: “The executive board has always been very hands-on in terms of taking responsibility for day-to-day issues. However, as the company grows and moves into new markets we recognise the importance of having a management board in place to assist the executive board and drive the business forward.

“Venson has a first-class client retention rate - 96% last year - and we are building our client base all the time. Putting the customer first is fundamental to the way we do business. We believe in accountability, ownership of issues and not hiding behind a call centre.

“Our staff retention rate is also extremely high and we invest in our employees so they are armed with ideas, expertise, passion and commitment to deliver the required solutions.

“The challenge for Venson is to continue to innovate and invest in new systems and services that will aid the further delivery of solutions that our customers want in line with how their fleets operate. Businesses and public sector organisations don’t want to have to tailor their fleet to the way a leasing or fleet management company functions.”

Venson is also looking at expanding into new areas of fleet business as it seeks both growth and diversification. That could result in the company breaking into the
HGV sector and building on its strong reputation for service delivery in the LCV market and supporting critical user fleers.

“Businesses with HGV fleets want good customer service and good account management and we now have a team of people across the executive board and the new management board to help identify opportunities and move the company forward,” said Ms Roff.

“The newly composed board brings significant assistance in managing the business on a day-to-day basis and will also bring forward fresh creative thinking.”