Former Lookers CEO joins Fleet Alliance boardroom as business focuses on growth

As part of the changes, Martin Brown moves from managing director to chair, completing the most significant restructure of the board since he launched the company nearly 20 years ago with joint shareholders Allen and Marjory Flynn.

The business currently manages a fleet of 30,000 vehicles worth in excess of £1 billion on behalf of customers.

Brown said the time was right for longer-term development of Fleet Allliance, with new leadership in the boardroom, adding: “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.

“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.”

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).

Bruce began his career in automotive as a graduate trainee at Land Rover 32 years ago and rose to UK sales director before joining Lookers in 2000, initially running the Northern Ireland business before taking a boardroom role in 2002. He became managing director of the motor division and chief operating officer in 2013 and group chief executive in 2014. He left the role in 2019 as part of a management shake-up as the dealership group restructured.

He 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 it 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.”

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, Glasgow-based Fleet Alliance was awarded Platinum Investors In People accreditation.

* Pictured (l-r): Andy Bruce, Martin Brown, Nigel McMinn