Richard Baird, head of new business development at Marshall Leasing, has been elected to ACFO’s board of directors for the first time.

The results were announced at this year’s ACFO Conference and AGM, which was supported by EDF Energy and Peugeot and held at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire on Thursday, May 16.

As an active member who has been with the Association for over 20 years, Baird is a well-known figure at ACFO.

His responsibilities have ranged from being Chairman for London East – a position which he has held for the last five years – through to Chair of the ACFO marketing group.

Baird's experience includes fleet sales and general management, having worked for private dealer groups as well as a major vehicle manufacturer.

For the past eight years, however, he has been working in the leasing industry and is currently head of new business development at Marshall Leasing.

He said: “I hope to use the sales management and marketing experience I’ve gained over the years to support the continued growth of our organisation – increasing membership while at the same time increasing the value of being a member.

"I relish the opportunity to contribute in these areas and in any others that will help to ensure the future success of the Association.”

ACFO has a six-strong board and directors Julie Jenner, key solutions manager UK, GE Capital, and Brian Ingham retired by rotation.

Jenner, an ACFO director for 10 years and chairman for seven years, was re-elected.

Ingham, who will be 65 later this year and served as a director for 10 years did not seek re-election. His place on the board has been taken by Baird, who has a 24-year association with ACFO and is chairman of the organisation’s London East Region.