Rachel Bullen joins ARI as new transport compliance manager

ARI has announced the appointment of Rachel Bullen to the newly created role of transport compliance manager, to help its fleet customers manage increasing demands of legislation and compliance.

Bullen, who has more than 30 years’ experience running fleets and chairs of industry bodies, will be working with customers to help establish and streamline compliance processes, says ARI.

Matt Cranny, operations director at ARI, said: “To have a person of such vast experience and knowledge of compliance and legislation on board at ARI is very important.

“Rachel has an encyclopaedic knowledge of compliance and a deep practical understanding of how to make it work on the ground. Rachel will be key to shaping ARIs solutions and support for our customers in the most important area of managing a commercial fleet.”

Prior to joining ARI, Bullen was fleet compliance and risk manager at Cadent Gas and was previously national training instructor at Logistics UK. Bullen continues to chair the Van Excellence Governance Group and Van Policy Working Group for Logistics UK.

Bullen, commenting on her appointment, said: “Compliance over the past few years, especially around O Licence, has become increasingly complex for many fleets. A lot of companies, especially those who are running increasing numbers of vans, are now having to navigate this challenging area when previously they did not.

“It is our job at ARI to help these companies, making administration as efficient as possible for them, helping them with governance, providing guidance and ensuring their procedures are watertight.”

Allianz Partners makes new appointments to corporate and new business sales teams

Allianz Partners UK has appointed Charlie Thomas as head of corporate accounts and Andrew Tolman (pictured) as head of business development, to help expand growth plans in new markets.

Thomas’ new role will see him use his background in insurance of more than 20 years, to strengthen business propositions with existing clients, whilst looking to build new relationships in the banking and corporate sectors.

Tolman joined Allianz Partners in 2016 as business development manager with an aim to build on new profitable opportunities and enter new markets. Allianz says his promotion recognises his success during the last four years and provides him the opportunity to expand the New Business team, as well as enhance current product offerings to ensure they continue to cater for customer needs following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lee Taylor, sales director at Allianz Partners UK, said: “We’re thrilled to both welcome Charlie to the team and recognise Andrew’s dedication to the business with his new appointment.

“Their knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in our business development as we expand into new markets, as well as in our continual enhancement of the products and services we provide to meet the ever-changing needs of our partners and their customers.”

Thomas’ previous roles include senior manager of corporate partnerships at BGL Group and national partnerships manager at Hiscox.

Both roles will benefit from investment by Allianz Partners in a new global IT platform which will deliver enhanced online digital experiences for its customers across all lines of business, said the company.

Michael Boulton appointed managing director international at Whistl

Whistl has promoted Michael Boulton to managing director international.

Boulton has been with the company for six years in various sales and development roles and in recent years has been part of the team driving the company’s international growth and capabilities, says Whistl.

Boulton developed and launched Whistl’s import customs clearance solutions to manage the import of items to final delivery to the end recipient.

Nick Wells, CEO, Whistl, said: “Michael and the international team are doing a great job of building and growing our international services and capability such as with the customs clearance collaboration with UKP.

“With the UKs trading status with Europe and the rest of the world changing due to new trading rules and regulations, there is no better team to guide customers through an increasingly complex journey, to make import and export of mail and parcels as smooth and efficient as possible.”

Alexander and Konstantin Sixt to succeed Erich Sixt as joint chairmen of the Board

Sixt SE CEO Erich Sixt will resign from his position of the Management Board after the Annual General Meeting on June 16, 2021, after more than 50 years at the helm of the company.

He will be handing over the Group’s management to Alexander and Konstantin Sixt and join the Supervisory Board of Sixt SE, where he plans to serve as chairman.

The future co-CEOs and previous members of the Management Board together bring nearly 30 years of strategic and operational experience working for the SIXT Group.

Sixt SE says the two have played a key role in shaping the company’s growth by founding and exiting from DriveNow, the increase in sales through the expansion of business customer sales and the e-commerce business, the IPO and sale of Sixt Leasing SE, the launch of the ONE mobility platform with the new SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ products and through their successful crisis management during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Alexander and Konstantin Sixt, said: “We are facing up to this challenge with a great sense of joy and determination, but also with deep humility, gratitude and respect for the life’s work of Erich Sixt, as well as for our responsibility to our employees.”

LEVC appoints Terry Rayner as head of UK sales

Terry Rayner has been appointed into a new role as head of UK sales at London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), to help support its growth plans in the domestic market.

Rayner will be responsible for overseeing sales of the new VN5 electric van and the TX taxi as well as supporting the growth of the UK dealer network.

The company says Rayner has played an instrumental role at LEVC, implementing a robust converter strategy, as well as working with key national fleet customers and LEVC’s national dealer network to ensure the successful introduction of VN5.

Joerg Hofmann, CEO at LEVC, said: “The UK has been our home for over a century and will always remain a priority market for LEVC. Following decades of success with our iconic ‘black cab’, we have recently transformed our business from a traditional taxi manufacturer into an electric vehicle company, with a growing product range.

“There are now over 4,000 electric TX taxis on the road in the UK and Terry will play a vital role as we expand our business further and firmly establish our new VN5 electric van in the domestic market.”

Rayner has over 40 years of sales and aftersales experience working at Ford Motor Company and has amassed decades of knowledge in the commercial vehicle segment. In his most recent roles, Rayner has worked as commercial vehicle director at Ford Middle East & Africa and commercial vehicle director at Ford Britain.