09 August 2021

Former Lookers directors Andy Bruce and Nigel McMinn have joined leading fleet management and online leasing firm Fleet Alliance, nearly two years after leaving the retail group.

Fleet Alliance is a fleet management firm with more than 30,000 cars on its books. Fleet Alliance also owns online lease broker Intelligent Car Leasing which targets SMEs and private individuals.

Mr Bruce is appointed CEO and Mr McMinn COO, while the current managing director and shareholder Martin Brown will become chairman of the business, effective 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.

Speaking to Auto Retail Bulletin, Mr McMinn said: “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.

“As the industry moves towards EVs, these electric cars lend themselves to a simple lease proposition.”

Mr McMinn added he expected the personal leasing sector to grow significantly in future as buyers moved to more flexible, simple online monthly payments as a way of running a car.

Former Fleet Alliance managing director and now chair, Martin Brown, commenting on the new-look executive board, said: “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, 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: “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.”

Tags: Andy Bruce, Fleet Alliance, Intelligent Car Leasing, Lookers, Martin Brown, Nigel McMinn