Lex Autolease has announced the appointment of Mark Chessman as its new corporate sales director.

Previously commercial director, Chessman will now lead Lex Autolease’s 270-strong corporate team, which provides fleet management solutions to businesses with fleets in excess of 500 vehicles.

Chessman joined Lex Autolease (then Lloyds TSB Autolease) in 2002 as finance director where he supported the integration of ACL/Autolease and the subsequent acquisition of First National Vehicle Contracts, before being appointed deputy managing director.

Following the merger with Lex, Chessman was appointed as commercial director of the new organisation and oversaw the largest integration in fleet management history.

Chessman, who has spent 15 years in the fleet management industry, began his career as a trainee accountant for the Rover Group, before joining retail arm of Lloyds TSB.  After a variety of traditional finance and change management roles, Chessman became an associate consultant for a specialist leasing consultancy and later Finance Director of Automotive Leasing.

The Corporate team’s customer base includes Speedy Hire plc, E.ON and Fujitsu UK & Ireland, with whom it recently announced a three-year agreement to renew a fleet of 2,000 business and benefit vehicles.

Rick Francis, managing director at Lex Autolease, said: “The corporate fleet sector forms a core part of our service offering. Mark is an experienced fleet professional who is the perfect candidate to lead the corporate team forward and further cement its market leading position.”

Commenting on his appointment, Chessman said: “Conditions remain challenging for many businesses and UK corporates are looking for effective fleet management solutions in the face of rising costs, regulation and economic uncertainty. As a trusted adviser and fleet solutions provider to many of the nation’s leading businesses, I look forward to supporting the ever changing fleet requirements of the corporate sector.”

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