Mike Roe joins Fleet Operations to oversee major UK and European expansion

A major UK and European expansion strategy at leading fleet management business, Fleet Operations, has moved up another gear with the appointment of experienced fleet professional Mike Roe.

Mr Roe, with 25 years fleet industry experience, has been appointed Managing Director of Fleet Operations and the organisation's sister business, EuroFleeting, with responsibility for day-to-day business management and growth.

Meanwhile, company founder and previous managing director Ross Jackson moves to the new position of Chief Executive and will take a more strategic approach to business expansion both in the UK and across Europe.

The managed multi-supplier business model promoted by the Cheshire-based organisation, which combines centralised management with cost savings, is proving increasingly popular with UK and multi-national businesses as they seek to optimise costs and fleet operating efficiencies.

Mr Jackson said: "More organisations are turning to our managed multi-bid fleet solutions to optimise fleet operating efficiency. Although many suppliers to the corporate fleet market are excellent, it's not unusual to see suppliers discretely increasing rates throughout the lifetime of a contract to improve their margins and thus their profitability.

"While we commercially understand the reasons behind this, our multi-bid approach creates a dynamic pricing model, coupled with the simplicity of sole supply. While we want to see all suppliers making money, our model limits pricing fluctuations and supports our focus on representing the best interests of our clients, where we manage the supplier base from cradle to grave and within a tightly controlled cost base.  In addition, and almost uniquely, we work with our customers to drive behavioural change through their organisations and, in so doing, change attitudes which, in turn, positively impacts avoidable cost and accidents.

"Fleet Operations and EuroFleeting brings the simplicity of sole supply in terms of a single point of contact through our offices and centralised reporting but vehicles and service solutions are seamlessly delivered through a multitude of client-specific suppliers."

He added: "I am thrilled that Mike has decided to join the business; he brings a wealth of experience with him and an impeccable track record in the industry. We are aiming for further significant growth both in the UK and on the continent on the back of a number of major national and international contract wins and Mike's knowledge and experience will be key."

Mr Roe, most recently sales and marketing director at Pendragon Contracts where he secured a number of major business wins in the past 12 months, said: "As the global economy moves slowly out of the depths of recession companies are looking for new ideas to cut costs and improve efficiencies, both in the UK and on a pan-European basis.

"The Fleet Operations and EuroFleeting business models excite me because of the scalable flexibility - operational efficiency, service excellence and cost management - within one country or many countries. Clients have the ability to benefit from multi-supply without any increase in administration as that aspect is managed through one supplier."

Fleet Operations is a founding partner and shareholder in Belgium-based EuroFleeting, which manages more than 60,000 vehicles on behalf of more than 80 customers. EuroFleeting now operates across most major European countries, with further pan-European and global expansion planned over the next 18 months.

Mr Jackson said: "Demand for pan-European solutions is gathering momentum as major organisations look to improve efficiencies and drive down costs. EuroFleeting's managed multi-supplier model operates on both a pan-European and a country-by-country level.

"To maximise efficiencies in each country there will be centralised reporting, but suppliers will be selected on individual country criteria, delivering cost-efficiency often lost in single/dual supply pan-European contracts."

Mr Roe, who has a finance background, joined the Pendragon organisation, which is now Britain's largest motor retail group, in 1986 to develop and launch its contract hire operation. He spent 12 years as managing director during which time he saw the fleet grow to 14,000 units.

He then joined rival retail group Reg Vardy to launch and build its vehicle leasing business. Over 10 years as operations director Mr Roe saw the fleet expand to 11,000 units.

Subsequently, Pendragon bought the Reg Vardy organisation and Mr Roe returned to the former's Derby headquarters where he spent the last three years as sales and marketing director of 22,000-vehicle Pendragon Contracts.