Holman appoints Nimesh Chauhan to oversee BT Group contract

Holman has appointed Nimesh Chauhan to oversee its recently-won contract to provide a range of services to BT Group.

The initial seven-year agreement covers solutions including service, maintenance and repair, portfolio management, glass replacement and pool vehicle/rental management for approximately 37,000 commercial vehicles.

BT Group is moving to Holman, previously ARI Fleet UK, after its contract with Rivus expired, while it will transfer the management of its company cars to Arval UK. Both contracts will start with the new providers from September 30.

Chauhan said: “This contract will set the standard for fleet management in the UK and my team and I can’t wait to get started.”

As customer success director, he will lead all aspects of the account using the expertise he has gained from his time at Holman, where he recently held the role of director, service delivery.

To support the BT operation and an increasing number of new contract wins, Holman is expanding its operations into Birmingham by establishing a new facility and creating various positions, from leadership to trainee positions.

BT Group’s decision to move from Rivus has had a significant impact on the fleet solutions company.

It has announced a major restructure in an effort to cut costs after struggling to replace business lost from losing the BT Group contract.

The company has confirmed to Fleet News that it would be closing 48 of its light commercial vehicle (LCV) garages, cutting its existing network by more than half, from 78 to just 30 sites including its heavy goods vehicle network.

The decision to close so many of its garages, it said, was to reduce a “heavy cost base” relating to legacy business systems, ageing garage facilities and a “complex people structure”.

While maintaining a reduced network in what it described as “strategic locations”, Rivus said that some in the Greater London area will become dedicated to solely providing mission-critical service, maintenance and repair services to the Metropolitan Police Service from November 1.