Ogilvie Fleet announces two key hires

Ogilvie Fleet has made two new key hires in response to growth of its contract hire and salary sacrifice products over the past 18 months.

Helen Asher (pictured above) has joined Ogilvie’s ‘MiSalarySacrifice’ team as account development manager, while Roxanne Stones (pictured below) has joined as a new business development manager, to support the businesses growth with corporate fleets operating cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs).

Asher has a background in corporate leasing, beginning at Mercedes-Benz Corporate before setting up her own brokerage and consultancy.

Stones has more than 16 years’ experience within the leasing and OEM sectors.

Asher said: “The ability to enjoy a brand-new vehicle for an affordable, fixed monthly cost, while both parties save money on tax is a win-win situation and I look forward to helping Ogilvie further build its customer base in this rapidly growing area.”

Stones added: “Customer service is a true passion of mine, and Ogilvie Fleet really embodies this as a company.

“Ogilvie has a real ‘can-do’ attitude and while it is a large company with a great standing in the marketplace, its independence means it remains flexible, which ultimately benefits the customer.”

Nick Hardy, the sales and marketing director at Ogilvie Fleet, said: “We are pleased to welcome Helen and Roxanne onto the Ogilvie Fleet team.

“With the combined knowledge of the industry, and the specialist background in contract hire and leasing that both share our customers will benefit from their expertise, customer service focus and enthusiasm.”

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions appoints Peter Campbell

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) has appointed Peter Campbell as business development manager to further develop its share of the used LCV, HGV, and plant sector.

Campbell joins the team after nearly 13 years working in senior motor retail positions on the island of Guernsey and 20 years with the Marshall Motor Group.

“We are pleased to welcome Peter to the team to help us further grow our fortnightly CV and plant auction,” said Alex Wright, SVA’s managing director.

“The entire team has lots of experience in the CV sector and as more new vehicles start to make their way into leasing, rental, and utility fleets we are well set to dispose of their used vehicles.”

Campbell added: “I was pleased to be asked to join SVA as they are well known for providing a very personal service to both vendors and buyers. I look forward to helping them further grow their CV business from their south coast HQ.”

Hexagon appoints new used vehicle sales manager

Hexagon Leasing has hired Richard McCarthy as its used vehicle sales manager to help build the company’s share of the used commercial vehicle market. 

McCarthy has almost two decades of industry experience and most recently worked in used commercial vehicle sales at Ryder.

Alan Ellison, CEO of Hexagon Leasing, said: “Richard brings a wealth of industry experience and we are delighted he is joining us at this exciting time as we continue to expand and grow the business.

“He will be leading the helm of our used commercial vehicle offering which is a big part of our ambitious plans and growth trajectory.” 

Hexagon is a nationwide contract hire, rental and fleet management provider and offers a wide range of used tractor units and bodies in a variety of sizes from all the leading manufacturers.

McCarthy said: “I am very excited about my new role at Hexagon as I enjoy working in this industry and with the company moving imminently to a new site, it feels like a new era for us all.

“I will be focussed on building end user market sales through a combination of methods including investing in the Hexagon website and regular stock mail-outs as well as drawing on my customer and trade contacts.”

Kura appoints head of corporate sales

Kura has announced the appointment of Luke Garcia as head of corporate sales to help manage its growing list of clients in the corporate sector.

In his new role, Garcia will be responsible for securing new business and more long-term contracts for corporate shuttle services, specifically among organisations targeting ‘blue collar’ workers in key industry sectors and Kura’s existing customer base.

He joins Kura from London based taxi and courier company, Addison Lee, where he spent five years working with commercial clients across the UK, other parts of Europe, the US and Asia.

He has a strong background in sales across the travel, logistics and supply chain industries, having worked with a wide range of businesses from SMEs to large corporates.

Garcia said: “The head of sales role was a highly appealing opportunity and the perfect next challenge.

“Kura is a fresh, yet experienced, business with a strong concept and ethos, and I look forward to working with the talented team to deliver against the goals that have been set for us.

“Now is an exciting time in the corporate shuttle market, with sustainability targets and employer brands needing to stand-out driving a healthy appetite across many sectors.

“Providing transport for employees that are unable to drive or run their own vehicles, or cannot afford or access public transport, can be a crucial competitive differentiator in recruitment and staff retention.

“The value Kura brings with its customer relationships and extensive network coverage makes it an attractive partner for any organisation considering offering this sort of support for their workforce.”

Godfrey Ryan, CEO of Kura, said: “Luke’s appointment comes at an exciting time for both the business and the corporate shuttle market, as organisations ramp up the support and duty of care they provide to employees in a bid to make roles more attractive.

“The experience and direction Luke brings to the team is invaluable and we’re delighted to have him on-board for the next stage of our growth journey.”

Wagonex partnership team expands with two new appointments

Wagonex, has strengthened its relationships team with two new managers, Josephine Young and Jordan Cooper, who have been appointed to work with a growing number of partners to ensure they get the most from the subscription model.

In the past six months, the Wagonex team has more than doubled as it continues to lead in this new sector in automotive.

Its latest recruits, both take on relationship manager roles and bring with them a wealth of knowledge in account management, market research, customer relations and sales.

Young, who has 17 years of experience in customer service and account management, primarily within the automotive sector, said: "Wagonex is a really progressive business that’s leading the way in car subscription services across the UK.

“In 2014, I attended an event where Volvo talked about car subscription as the future of car ownership, and how car manufacturers needed to accept this shift across the whole automotive industry.

“In recent years, I’ve seen these predictions start to take shape, which motivated me to apply for this job and get involved in this changing landscape.

“As well as empowering partners to get the most out of the Wagonex platforms, I hope to help clients understand the processes and drivers behind the shift to subscription and work with OEMs/dealerships to thrive in this sector.

“It's an exciting time for car subscriptions and I think it’s just going to continue to grow."

Cooper brings with him six years’ experience in the automotive industry, predominantly in the car finance sector.

He said: “Wagonex is a really exciting company and one that I believe is going to continue to go from strength to strength.

“I was really impressed with the look and feel of the platform and having worked predominantly in the car finance sector, I could definitely see how this would positively impact the automotive industry.

“Throughout the interview process, I really bought into the journey and culture that clearly came across, and knew I wanted to be a part of it.”

Wayve appoints Frank Fink as director of automotive partnerships 

Wayve has announced that Frank Fink has joined the company as director of automotive partnerships.

In this role, Frank will focus on building relationships with global automotive OEMs to commercialise Wayve's self-driving technology.

Fink has had a long career leading business development and partnerships teams across the tech sector, with extensive experience in first-of-its-kind deals.

Most recently, he was at Waymo, where he managed the team responsible for developing the Zeekr robotaxi vehicle in partnership with Chinese automaker Geely.

Prior to Waymo, Frank held senior positions at companies including Dropbox, Nokia, Samsung and Microsoft. He began his career as a litigation attorney.

Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO at Wayve, said: "Frank is a seasoned business leader with the right skills and experience to lead Wayve in this exciting next chapter.

“The AV industry is at an inflection point with the first commercial services forming in limited areas.

“Wayve’s next-generation AV2.0 approach to autonomous driving is ideal for commercial deployments, as it presents a vehicle-friendly integration that can easily adapt to new cities around the world.

“Now that we have started our first commercial trials, it is the right time to explore automotive partnerships to scale our AV2.0 technology.

“Frank's work will be critical in driving our AV2.0 commercialization efforts forward by collaborating with the global automotive industry, ensuring a path to scaled production.

“Our team is thrilled to have Frank on board, and we look forward to learning from his leadership."

Fink added: “I couldn't be more excited to join Wayve. AV2.0 represents a step-change in self-driving systems that will dramatically accelerate the scaling of autonomous mobility across different platforms and operating systems.

“Wayve has assembled an all-star team that is uniquely positioned to bring this transformational technology to market."

Michael Leeson joins Whistl Fulfilment from Monsoon Accessorize

Whistl has appointed Michael Leeson as regional director (south) for its Whistl Fulfilment division. 

He joins the company from Monsoon Accessorize where he spent 15 years, most recently as logistics director. He has also spent five years working at Clipper Logistics in various managerial roles.

Leeson will take over the running of Whistl’s fulfilment operations in Rushden, Northampton and Lutterworth.  Whistl is the UK’s market leader in mid-market multi-user warehouse fulfilment with over 1.5m sqft of fulfilment warehouse capability.

Nick Wells, executive chairman at Whistl, said: “Michael brings first class operational expertise which will enable us to drive forward our growth plans for Whistl Fulfilment.

"We are investing in our capabilities and Michael will work with recently appointed Fliss O’Hara, commercial director, to build our presence in the e-commerce fulfilment sector.”