All articles by Claire Hack
Claire Hack
BVRLA takes on new board members
Neil Cunningham has been appointed as the new chairman of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), replacing LeasePlans Kevin McNally, who has finished his two-year term. Cunningham, who is general manger of Hertz UK, has more than 25 years experience within the rental industry in Europe and the UK, with cars and commercial vehicles. Speaking on his appointment, he said: We must continue to lobby the government and its motoring agencies to reduce the amount of bureaucracy associated with owning and operating fleets
Northgate appoints finance director
He has also worked for Deloitte LLP and has a degree in economics and accountancy from Newcastle University.Bob Contreras, Northgate chief executive, said: Chris has an extensive working knowledge of the business and has worked for Northgate in a wide range of finance positions, demonstrating that he has the capability to be an outstanding finance director.
IGF bid to poach Oracle customers
Captive giant IBM Global Financing (IGF) is to begin offering 0% financing for 12 months to credit-qualified customers as part of a bid to capture software customers from IBM rival Oracle.
LeasePlan inks deal with Aviva
Following a year-long tendering process, LeasePlan is to provide services including contract hire, daily and relief rental and legacy fleet management for Avivas fleet of 1,550 vehicles, to cover all its company car users. Avivafleet contract manager Paul Murdoch said: Aviva had, due to its extensive tender process, a very tight implementation time line, which was completed effortlessly by LeasePlan
Asset Works offers new product
Start-up asset management and anti-fraud specialist The Asset Works has launched a new asset management product, in addition to its radio frequency identification-based (RFID) SmartSecure offering. Known as SmartTag, the new product consists of a sticker, bearing a leasing companys name and a unique quick response (QR) code, affixed to each asset in its possession. The code, which can be scanned using a smart phone, allows lessors to connect to a mobile internet site, to access asset identification, condition, location data and images.
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First CHP client goes live with ALFA v5
The first of CHP Consultings clients has gone live with the latest iteration of its browser-based asset finance software platform. ALFA v5 was first released September 2009 and the project with the client, described as a major international bank, began in June 2010.
Fleet Logistics forms partnership with TÜV SÜD
European fleet management company Fleet Logistics has entered a strategic partnership with international technical services corporation TV SD and its German fleet management subsidiary, FleetCompany. The aim of the partnership is to create a combined international fleet management business with more than 200,000 fleet vehicles The partnership with subsidiary FleetCompany is part of a bid to offer a pure fleet management solution to companies looking to self-finance or purchase outright, rather than lease, added Fleet Logistics.
Alta and Invigors join forces
Leasing consultancies The Alta Group and Invigors have joined forces to form Invigors EMEA LLP, which will be part of The Alta Group. The erstwhile rivals are to combine their skills and geographic coverage within Invigors EMEA as part of a bid to strengthen services offered to its clients and those of The Alta Group globally.
LFS helps technology dealers
IT funder Lenovo Financial Services (LFS) has launched upgraded financing facilities for technology dealers in the UK and France on the back of research suggesting there is to be an upswing in companies seeking leasing solutions. It comes as research, carried out by market intelligence provider IDC, showed 50% of companies surveyed were planning to lease more frequently in 2011, while 70% said the availability of leasing is key in choosing a vendor.
EBRD to support Bulgarian leasing market
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will supply a 20 million loan to Raiffeisen Leasing Bulgaria to support the Bulgarian SME sector The loan will be used to provide leases to local companies in Bulgaria to finance capital investments for the expansion of their businesses