The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

BRIDGET Portman has joined daily rental group Hertz as head of franchise sales and marketing. Portman will report to vice-president sales and marketing Bill Jones and will be responsible for bringing additional revenue into the franchise network and providing business development and marketing expertise to Hertz franchisees. She joins from ANC Rental, where she spent 18 months as sales director. Prior to that she was European account manager at Hertz Europe.

MARK Keeping has been appointed as sales and remarketing manager at Jet Total Vehicle Solutions. Keeping joins from VRS, where he gained experience in the remarketing sector. In his new role Keeping has taken over the trade auction operation at Jet and will be responsible for developing remarketing services for the company.

HI-Q GOOD-YEAR Dunlop has recruited Mike Garwood as operating manager dealer/franchise. Garwood moves internally from the role of marketing manager and brings more than 30 years’ industry experience in sales, operating and marketing. Garwood spent 20 years at another national operator before joining Motorway Tyre and Autocentres in 1994. He was appointed as marketing manager at Hi-Q four years ago. He will report directly to Graham Scholefield, retail director, in his new role.

THE Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has appointed a new board member. RMI finance director Kevin Waterman has joined the RMI board of directors. Prior to joining the RMI in 2003, Waterman was finance director for a number of media and publishing companies.

LLOYDS TSB Autolease has promoted John McArdle to the position of commercial vehicle disposal manager. McArdle brings more than 25 years’ experience of auction remarketing and will be responsible for the remarketing strategy for all commercial vehicles. He will work closely with auction houses in the UK and will develop the group’s disposal programme with the aim of increasing residual values. McArdle is also part of the panel which produced the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s Fair Wear and Tear Guide.

JOHN Haskins has joined epyx as sales manager responsible for the 1link service network. Haskins began his career in the fleet industry as one of the founders of Crown Vehicle Leasing and has held several contract hire industry positions. Most recently he was European sales director for International Decision Systems, formerly David Henley Systems. He will be responsible for sales of 1link service network to new and existing customers.