Martin Brown moves to Chair of Fleet Alliance as new-look board focuses on growth

Martin Brown is to become Chair of leasing provider Fleet Alliance as a new Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer strengthen the board to oversee company expansion.

Joining the Glasgow-based fleet management and leasing broker are experienced automotive executives, Andy Bruce and Nigel McMinn, both formerly of automotive retailer Lookers plc.

Bruce is appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and McMinn Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective today (09 August, 2021).

The new executive structure is the most significant change to the board since the inception of the company nearly 20 years ago by shareholders Allen Flynn, Marjory Flynn and Martin Brown. Since then it has grown to become a highly respected and profitable business, with a managed fleet of more than 30,000 vehicles worth in excess of £1bn.

Former Managing Director and now Chair, Martin Brown, commenting on the new-look executive board, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Andy and Nigel to lead our next phase of expansion. Their experience of creating growth, considerable manufacturer relationships, and extensive knowledge gained in the retail sector, will be invaluable to the company as we position ourselves for the future.

“Fleet Alliance has grown significantly into a premium fleet management company since the business first started. But now the time is right for the longer term development of Fleet Alliance and an injection of fresh new thinking as the leasing sector becomes more mainstream. In my new role as Chair, I will continue to have a key input to the business and draw on almost 25 years of experience in the leasing market. Although I will be stepping away from my day to day role, I will work with Andy and Nigel on strategy, while representing the interests of the shareholders.”

Andy Bruce, a former CEO of Lookers plc, along with former COO Nigel McMinn, have between them extensive high-level management experience and together grew Lookers into one of the largest motor groups in the UK over a period of seven years.

Commenting on his appointment as CEO, Bruce said:

“I am excited to join the team at Fleet Alliance and help with the next chapter of the business. The leasing broker sector has grown to become an important part of the automotive landscape and I am convinced the company has many opportunities ahead of it. Not only can it continue to benefit from the growing popularity of leasing to both consumer and enterprise sectors, but it can broaden its capabilities to embrace the increasingly important mobility sector.”

Nigel McMinn takes on the role of COO in the new-look Fleet Alliance executive, saying on his appointment:

“Fleet Alliance is the leading broker in the corporate and SME leasing market and the aim is to develop this side of the business as the market moves to EVs. The Intelligent Car Leasing personal leasing brand for consumers has shown significant growth in recent years and has the potential to accelerate further. It will be a key focus of mine to bring experience from the franchised retail world to maximise this opportunity.”

Bruce and McMinn join the current Fleet Alliance executive team of David Blackmore (Commercial Director), Angela Robertson (Finance Director), Grant Boardman (Client Services Director) and Rob Wentworth-James (Corporate Sales Director).

Fleet Alliance is a member of EV100, the global group of businesses committed to switching fleets to zero emission vehicles by 2030, and recently announced it would be working with the Eco3 Partnership to become a carbon neutral company. At the beginning of the year, Fleet Alliance was awarded Platinum Investors In People accreditation.