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The leasing and rental body, now led by Keaney for more than three years, is increasingly vocal on defending its members' interests, especially as the diesel air pollution debate continues to rage and the Government is consulting on the future tax treatment of salary-sacrifice cars and ultra-low CO2 vehicles. The BVRLA is also broadening its research and training activity, revising its funding and fair wear-and-tear guides, and expanding its accredited and independent mediation service.
Following the launch of the highly rated new Astra a year ago, eyes are beginning to turn to the new Insignia due in 2017, with Vauxhall safely settled in second spot for UK fleet sales, at 146,601 last year - more than 37,000 units behind Ford, but over 27,000 ahead of VW. The breadth of its range seems a key Vauxhall success, with the Astra, Corsa, Mokka and Insignia all inside the top 10 fleet models.
Brownrigg joined Alphabet's UK operation in June 2016 to replace Richard Schooling, coming from Dubai-based ALJ Group, where he was chief executive for Pre-Owned Vehicles within the Middle East's largest automotive group. He will be tasked with driving Alphabet's continued push into more mobility solutions and innovative use of tech to secure growth, particularly in the areas of car sharing and plug-in vehicles.
With the acquisition of GE Capital's car leasing book confirmed last November, Arval jumped into the top four leasing firms in the UK, although the dust is still settling in terms of where the combined fleet will put Arval when compared with Leaseplan's 147,000 fleet and the 140,000-book Alphabet boasts. Depending on how much wastage there has been, a fleet of around 145,000 seems the smartest bet.
Dyer is now two and a half years in to running the UK's number two leasing company, which had more than 147,000 vehicles on its books at our last count. The Euro 3.7bn acquisition of Leaseplan's parent firm by a consortium of investors including Dutch and Danish pension providers, was completed in March this year, while in the UK, Dyer has recently appointed a new boss of the company's Network broker division in Tom Brewer.
Gregory moved to head up Ford's UK fleet operations in July. Previously in Germany since 2014 as European brand manager for the Focus, C-max and Kuga, he will be tasked with maintaining the brand's number one position in both fleet and LCVs. He has joined at a relatively quite time product-wise, with a new Fiesta at least a year away as the next major all-new model.
Bienkowska is the minister most responsible for the car industry, and specifically delivering the new Real Driving Emissions tests that will replace the current new car efficiency tests so heavily criticised for not reflecting what motorists are able to achieve on the road. From 1 September 2017 the RDE tests will determine whether a newly developed car gets type approval, and by September 2019 all new vehicles will have to conform.
The UK's dominant leasing company shows no signs of releasing its relentless grip on the UK contract hire market, recording growth of more than 12,000 vehicles in the first half of 2016 despite already boasting over double the number of vehicles on its books than the second-placed leasing business. The latest total is 329,865 units, including more than 10,000 alternative-fuelled vehicles.
Tim Porter has led the company since March 2013, and the first half of 2016 saw good growth in small and medium-sized fleet business, with the broker division passing the 60,000-vehicle delivery mark. The company has, though, closed its two remarketing sites in the West Midlands this year, channelling instead through BCA.
Epsom and Ewell MP Grayling became secretary of state for transport in Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle, having previously served as leader of the House of Commons. The Department for Transport is the driving force behind a range of plans, investments and schemes that have a huge impact on the ease of business car operation.
Its big issue to address is the fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the knock-on effects on diesel fuel's reputation and on the way emissions tests are carried out. Attitudes and expectations around the new classifications will be largely shaped by the way the DfT approaches the situation, and the education message about vehicle emissions ratings changes will be key to widespread acceptance. Ultra-low emission vehicles and the grant incentives around their adoption are also under Grayling's control, as are the more widespread adoption of so-called 'smart motorways'.
And if that wasn't enough, Grayling's department also has the responsibility of dealing with the autonomous driving issues in terms of how legislation will keep pace with development and how these vehicles will make their way safely onto UK roads.
The new chancellor makes a return to the sharp end of our Power List having previously placed 13th five years ago due to his position as transport secretary, a role he held for 18 months until late 2011. But now he's back in a position where the impact on UK fleet operation could be huge, as Theresa May's chancellor.
And he comes in at a time where the pressure on company car drivers is being ramped up thanks to hefty benefit-in-kind increases that have the potential to reduce the attractiveness of company cars, with the perception being that CO2 reductions by manufacturers were faster-paced than the Government expected, so revenues need to be recouped.
Then there's the issue of electric vehicles, and the active consultation on what to do with BIK incentives on ultra-low emission vehicles to ensure they remain attractive while still paying their way as they become more mainstream. Plus, there's another consultation currently seeking responses with regards to what to do about salary-sacrifice schemes, with the fleet industry in the midst of a robust defence of car sal-sac, which is being assessed along with some other salary-sacrifice arrangements to see if there's an argument for them being too tax-advantageous.
This is all without mentioning the proposed Vehicle Excise Duty changes coming next April, the constantly thorny issue of fuel duty, or the wider tax, spending and budgetary policies and if they enable businesses to thrive and grow. We'll find out in November's autumn statement what Hammond's early plans are, and which areas he's looking to target first. It will be an interesting speech.
>> Click 'next' to see the names that didn't make the cut this year.
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