Fleet Assist has announced the promotion of Karen Ewer to the newly created position of head of business development.

Ewer (pictured), who joined Fleet Assist in January 2011 as a business development manager, now manages the company’s five-strong business development team, working with a significant number of the UK’s major contract hire and leasing companies collectively operating almost 900,000 vehicles.

She started work in the fleet industry almost 20 years ago at Ford Rental before spending nearly two years at Fleetline ahead of joining Fleet Assist.

Ewer said: “I have gained a deep understanding of the Fleet Assist business and have got to know customers and understand their requirements in a significantly cost-focused and data-driven environment.

“Fleet Assist has been very successful in growing its contract hire and leasing company customer base and more recently has started to win business with rental companies wanting to use the network of service outlets.”

The team is focused on growing Fleet Assist’s customer portfolio and increasing the penetration of business into the company’s nationwide network of more than 5,000 service outlets.

It is also looking to further develop rental business and the supply of cars to independent rental companies and garages seeking courtesy vehicles.

Fleet Assist is the UK’s leading supply chain management specialist and recently announced plans to grow the network of service outlets due to significant interest from more contract hire companies as well as rental firms in helping them to manage vehicle SMR.

Fleet Assist’s managing director Vincent St Claire said: “Karen has proven herself to be a dedicated and customer-focused member of the Fleet Assist team.

“Her appointment to this role and becoming part of the senior management team reflects our ongoing commitment to invest in assisting our customers.”