LeasePlan appoints Tex Gunning as CEO and Marco van Kalleveen as COO as Vahid Daemi steps down

LeasePlan Corporation, the world’s largest fleet management and driver mobility company, has appointed of a new chief executive officer, Tex Gunning (pictured above), and a new chief operating officer, Marco van Kalleveen (pictured below).

After two decades with LeasePlan, Vahid Daemi has decided to retire and step down as chief executive officer.

LeasePlan’s chief operating officer Sven-Torsten Huster will also step down after six years on LeasePlan’s managing board.

All of these changes are effective 20 September 2016, with the exception of Sven-Torsten Huster who will share the role of COO with Marco van Kalleveen until 31 December 2016.

The appointments have been approved by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB).

After working for LeasePlan for more than 20 years, including 10 years as CEO, Vahid Daemi has decided to retire and step down as CEO of the company. He has agreed to continue to serve LeasePlan as an advisor to the managing board and as chair of the general meeting of shareholders of LeasePlan until the end of 2017.

Huster joined LeasePlan’s managing board in 2011 under his secondment contract with Volkswagen Financial Services, as a result of the 50% joint ownership of LeasePlan by Volkswagen AG at that time.

He will step down as COO as his term of appointment will expire on 31 December 2016, sharing the role with Marco van Kalleveen until the end of the year. Huster will continue as an advisor to his successor until the end of 2017.

In good shape

Daemi said: “LeasePlan is in good shape, has a successful history and a continued growth path. This current environment presents a natural opportunity for me to pass the baton to a new CEO. I consider it a privilege to have led LeasePlan to its current market leadership and solid profitability. I am confident that CEO Tex Gunning and COO Marco van Kalleveen, together with CFO Guus Stoelinga and CCO Nick Salkeld, will form a strong managing board.”

Jos Streppel, chairman of the supervisory board of LeasePlan, added: “Vahid has been instrumental in the success of LeasePlan and has helped to create the world’s leading fleet management and driver mobility company, expanding its fleet to a record level of more than 1.6 million vehicles worldwide.

“Under his leadership high levels of client satisfaction and employee engagement have been achieved. Sven’s automotive business experience has been of great value to the company. Moreover, he developed LeasePlan’s IT strategy and led improvements in the company’s core operational processes and insurance offering, all to the benefit of LeasePlan’s clients. We are pleased that both Vahid and Sven will continue to share their valuable expertise with the company in their ongoing advisory roles.”

Streppel stressed: “The supervisory board has completed a thorough process to select a new CEO and COO. Tex is a visionary leader and will be a great asset to the leadership team, as will Marco. LeasePlan’s focus will remain on delivering outstanding service to our clients. Both Tex and Marco have extensive leadership experience and I am confident that all our stakeholders, such as clients, employees, investors, shareholders and suppliers, will benefit from their expertise as the company enters its next stage of development.”

Tex Gunning has extensive experience in supporting large global companies through to their next stage of development. He worked in global positions for Unilever for more than 25 years. His last role at Unilever was business group president in Asia. Furthermore he gained broad management experience at companies like Vedior, AkzoNobel and TNT Express.

Marco van Kalleveen has management experience on a global level as a partner of McKinsey and in senior positions at Bain Capital and TNT Express.