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BusinessCar Power List 2016

Date: 20 September 2016   |   Author:

The Power List was the headline feature story in the very first issue of BusinessCar back in 2006, and rarely has it seen as much year-on-year change as this year.

More than a third of the names in last year's Power List are gone for one reason or another (see 'Gone from the 2016 list' on page four), driven in part by the massive recent shifts in the UK political landscape, as well as some heavyweight personnel changes at manufacturers, leasing firms and within other key areas of the marketplace.

The Power List is purely our interpretation of the industry, helped by the most recent numbers for leasing company and manufacturer volumes, and it is intended to get people talking about the business, where influence lies, and the direction in which the industry is travelling.

Others will probably see things differently because in a sector as fluid, dynamic and varied as ours, there are bound to be a range of opinions.

50 -  David Hosking (New entry)

Tusker - Chief executive

Leasing firm boss Hosking has entered the list because of Tusker's role as a salary-sacrifice specialist, the benefit that allows generally lower-paid workers access to cleaner and safer vehicles they might not otherwise be able to afford.

The Government is investigating whether such schemes deprive the Treasury of too much revenue, and Tusker's part in a their defence will have an impact on its own business and the industry as a whole.

49 - Jon Wackett (New entry)

Jaguar Land Rover - General manager, fleet and business sales

A big growth in sales last year is likely to be followed by something similar in 2016. The new Jaguar XE, XF and F-pace, joined by Land Rover Discovery Sport and revised Evoque, give a line-up with genuine company car appeal, and plenty of work has gone on behind the scenes to make sure running costs match or in some cases beat the best the German prestige brands can offer.

48 - Edmund King (New entry)

The AA - President

The AA's influence stretches across much more than vehicle recovery, with accident management, insurance, driver training and risk management all within King's remit as president. The latest addition of an app that helps patrols find stranded vehicles is claimed to have shaved five minutes off the response time.

47 - Nina Bell (Down two)

Avis-Budget UK - Managing director

Now more than 18 months into heading up the UK, as well as Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Bell celebrates 20 years with Avis next year. The firm has added a specific van channel, and operates out of around 160 locations nationwide.

46 - Henry Brace (New entry)

BT Fleet - Managing director

Brace replaced David Bowen and stepped up to the top job in July, having joined BT Fleet in October 2014 as finance director. He now heads an organisation on the edge of the top dozen leasing companies in the UK.

45 - David Martell (Up one)

Chargemaster - Managing director

It's been another busy year for one of the most vocal members of the electric vehicle community. A tie-up with The AA to help promote plug-in vehicles, the first installations for Highways England and expansion of the company's network of rapid chargers in London are just some of the highlights.

44 - Lance Bradley (No change) 

Mitsubishi Motors UK - Managing director

The EV debate has intensified since Ecotricity added a fee for using its charge points, in part to discourage plug-in hybrids from clogging up motorway charging stations. As boss of the brand with the biggest-selling plug-in - the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV - Bradley has lots to say on the subject. The firm will expand its EV offering as new cars arrive, and during 2015 launched a new L200 pick-up, the What Van? LCV of the Year.

43 - Neil Broad (Down three)

Toyota/Lexus - General manager, fleet services

After something of a lull in new product, it's a very busy period for Broad, with the new Prius and Hilux recently launched, and a new C-HR crossover that the firm has very high hopes for coming before the end of the year.

42 - Bob Contreras (Down five)

Northgate PLC - Chief executive

Northgate strengthened its management team during 2016, adding Eddie Aston as Northgate Vehicle Hire MD and Mike Speakman as operations director. The UK's largest LCV rental firm made UK pre-tax profits of £77.6m in its 2015-16 financial year, down on the previous year's £83.0m thanks to a reduction in the number of UK vehicles it has on hire.

41 - Bob Middleton (Down three)

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services - Managing director

Things are soon to get interesting for Middleton's Mercedes-Benz leasing arm following parent company Daimler's acquisition of major international leasing band Athlon, which doesn't currently operate in the UK. At the time the acquisition was announced in July, Daimler confirmed that the UK operation will adopt the Athlon branding once the buyout is complete.

40 - Michiel van Ratingen (Up three)

Euro NCAP - Secretary general

After a few years where every car seemed to gain a perfect five-star rating, a
long-overdue revamp of the European crash-testing process has placed much greater emphasis on active accident prevention systems, bringing the organisation back to a position of pushing manufacturers to make big improvements.

39 - Guy Pigounakis (New entry)

Hyundai - Fleet director

Having replaced Martin Wilson as fleet boss in February, Pigounakis will be tasked with overseeing the next round of growth for the top 10 fleet player, starting with the new lower medium i30 that goes on sale in the UK early next year.

38 - Phil Price (Down three)

IDS Topcalc - Residual values forecasting editor

Price continues to oversee the RV forecasting for whole-life cost specialist IDS in his role as manufacturer liaison for the UK operation of this US-owned company.

37 - Peter Lambert (Down four)

Kwik-Fit - Fleet director

It's been a comparatively quiet 2016 for the boss of the fast-fit giant's fleet operation after a couple of years of sustained investment in improving the appearance, facilities and service offering of its network.

36 - Paul Hollick (Down two)

ICFM - Chairman

The Miles Consultancy's commercial director Hollick has headed the Institute of Car Fleet Management for nearly two years, and has overseen rising membership numbers while improving the quality and quantity of its qualifications, redeveloping its website and building closer ties within the industry.

35 - Jon Lawes (Down three)

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions - Managing director

Lawes has now headed the UK's ninth-largest leasing operator for 18 months, having been with the firm for more than 15 years. Hitachi recently sealed an 8500-vehicle deal with Amey to manage the infrastructure firm's entire fleet.

34 - David Cooper (Down three)

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management - Director

The UK's number eight leasing firm, which closed to within just over 1000 units of Zenith in 2015, moved to a new 90,000ft2 HQ in Glasgow earlier this year

33 - Tim Buchan (Down three)

Zenith - Managing director

The leasing firm formed from the private equity acquisitions of both Zenith and Leasedrive dropped the latter's branding early this year, and is, according to newspaper reports, putting out feelers with regard to a potential sale by current owner Hg Capital.

32 - Avril Palmer-Baunack (New entry)

BCA - Executive chairman

The driving force behind BCA's moves since it was acquired by private equity firm Haversham Holdings in April 2015, Palmer-Baunack has overseen numerous acquisitions by the parent company of the UK's dominant auction player, which also owns the Webuyanycar brand.

31 - David Davis (New entry) 

Secretary of state for leaving the European Union

Following the Brexit vote and subsequent change of Tory party leadership, the new position of a minister in charge of handling the UK's exit was created. MP for the Yorkshire constituency of Haltemprice and Howden, Eurosceptic Davis took the role in July, and will handle negotiations on the economically pivotal action of withdrawing from the EU.

30 - Mike Williams (Down one)

HM Treasury - Director, business and international tax

As HM Treasury seeks to increase its revenues from company car drivers, the likes of salary-sacrifice schemes are appearing on radars along with the increases in benefit-in-kind taxation.

>> Click 'next' to see the next page in our countdown of the most influentional people in fleet.



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