Venson Automotive Solutions has strengthened its board and senior management with two new appointments as its looks to further expansion.

Alan McCleave, who has more than 10 years vehicle leasing industry experience, has joined as business development director, and Nuno Ferreira has taken up the newly created position of client experience improvement manager.

McCleave joins a Venson board headed by managing director Samantha Roff and comprising Simon Staton, director of client services; Carl Stephens, commercial director; Alison Bell, marketing director; and Ian Nicholson, finance director.

The post of business development director has been created by the decision to split Staton’s previously combined role of director of sales and client services.

Roff said: “Now with a combined funded and managed fleet of more than 11,500 vehicles, Venson has seen growth in a challenging economic climate.

“We have a first-class client retention rate due to our ‘Customer First’ approach and we are building our customer base all the time.

“This is due to our partnership ethos and delivering carefully considered solutions that respond to both the customer’s operational and financial objectives.”

McCleave’s leasing industry career includes spells at Hertz Lease (which was acquired by ALD Automotive), ING Car Lease (now part of Alphabet), BT Fleet, Pendragon Contracts and Inchcape Fleet Solutions.

At those organisations he worked in a variety of roles, from starting out as a business development manager to running pan-European sales teams and setting up vehicle supply businesses.

He also has experience in establishing broker channels, running corporate sales teams and selling service, maintenance and repair and workshop solutions for light commercial vehicles, HGVs and specialist plant and appliances.

In addition, he has specialised in delivering employee car ownership and cash for car schemes.

McCleave said: “What interested me about the business was the strength of proposition - a leasing company that also specialises in fleet management that has the unique spin of operating its own workshops and Equip for Service centre.

“I think this is a really powerful message in the market that will absolutely appeal to a lot of organisations who are tired of vanilla contract hire businesses who are only interested in money or metal. I could also feel the culture of ‘Customer First’, which is in stark contrast with some organisations that I have worked for.”

Ferreira’s objective as client experience improvement manager is to continue to evolve the company’s ‘Customer First’ service delivery programme. He reports to Staton.

Roff said: “By identifying, scoping, managing and executing various initiatives Mr Ferreira’s role will ensure that the business continues to meet the ever evolving and challenging demands of clients and continues to compete effectively in the marketplace.”

Prior to joining Venson, Ferreira was employed at Dyno-Rod-British Gas, working as Arrow Project manager where he was responsible for identifying areas of change, developing the mitigating action needed and project managing the activities to ensure smooth delivery of the Dyno Arrow project plan in preparation for an FSA Arrow Audit. He previously spent five years managing Dyno Rod’s national Customer Service Centre and 18 months at Carphone Warehouse managing its Contact Centre.

Venson clients include: RWE npower, Morrison Facilities Services, Integral UK, Salvation Army, Hertfordshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Police and a number of housing trusts.