Andrew French has been appointed as Michelin’s director of services and solutions for the UK, Ireland and Nordics.

Michelin solutions manages the tyres on more than 80,000 buses, coaches and trucks in the UK, Ireland and Nordics. 

Having joined in August 1996 as an apprentice, French (pictured) qualified as a chartered management accountant in 2009 before being appointed as chief accountant for a small group of UK-based Michelin companies, going on to earn his place on the management team a year later.

He said: “This is a really exciting time to be stepping up to lead the Michelin solutions business.

"Everything we’re doing as a company focuses on reducing customer pain points in all areas of mobility – and our solutions have expanded far beyond purely tyre management contracts.

“Each day my team is having conversations with fleets about projects ranging from improving the effectiveness of daily fleet inspections, to pretty much eradicating instances of tyre-related trailer breakdowns at the roadside.

"Our goal is to offer a package of solutions which deliver absolute customer satisfaction.”

In 2014 he became business partner controller for Michelin solutions in North Europe, a role which enabled him to use his wealth of management accounting and commercial experience.

Most recently, from February 2017, he worked as key account manager for Michelin, responsible for the company’s multi product-line relationship with tyre distributor ATS Euromaster.

He brings more than 20 years experience to the role and will be responsible for the European customers, alongside continuing the growth of Michelin technology to the marketplace.

French will report to Chris Smith, Michelin’s sales director – B2B.

He takes over from Paul Davey, who has held the role of Michelin solutions commercial director since the business was established in May 2013. Davey is due to retire in June 2018 after 44 years at Michelin.