Two businesses, Global Vans and XLCR, have joined forces to create a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) focussed car and van leasing ‘super broker’.

Both businesses will continue to have the same management and retain their individual brands and identities.

XLCR CEO Lee Duerden and MD Shaun O’Neill will join the executive board of the Global Vans, which is led by Andrew Hurst, CEO of Global Vans.

Hurst said that that the pair share the vision to become the UK’s “best and most innovative tech enabled SME specialist broker for LCVs and cars, their electrification, insurance and ancillary products”.

Duerden explained that in March 2022, they had watched in “awe and admiration” as Global Vans secured the private equity backing from H2 Equity, a private equity (PE) firm.

“To be then asked to join them both on their journey, to build the biggest and best SME focussed car and van leasing ‘super broker’ was an opportunity not to be missed,” he said.

“Together, along with our respective teams we have the vision and ability to become a market leader in this highly specialist B2B space”

Global Vans, which is a supplier of new light commercial vehicles, was founded in 2002 with its head office in Bristol and a second office in Hemel Hempstead.

XLCR is a supplier of new and used cars and vans in the UK. It was founded in 2000 and has its head office in Colne, Lancashire.