Martin Brown becomes chair of Fleet Alliance in major change to executive board

• Pictured above are members of the new-look Fleet Alliance management team: Andy Bruce CEO (left); Martin Brown chair (centre); and Nigel McMinn COO

MARTIN Brown, the long-time managing director of Fleet Alliance, is stepping away from his day-to-day duties. He will take the role of chair in a new-look executive board with expansion as its aim.

Joining the Glasgow-based fleet management and leasing broker are experienced automotive executives, Andy Bruce and Nigel McMinn, both formerly of automotive retailer Lookers plc.

Bruce is appointed chief executive officer (CEO) and McMinn chief operating officer (COO), effective today (09 August, 2021).

The company says the new executive structure is the most significant change to the board following its inception nearly 20 years ago by shareholders Allen Flynn, Marjory Flynn and Martin Brown. Since then it has grown to manage a fleet of more than 30,000 vehicles worth in excess of £1bn.

Commenting on the new-look executive board, Martin Brown said:

I am delighted to welcome Andy and Nigel to lead our next phase of expansion. 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.

Brown added that he felt it was the right moment for the longer term development of the broker business, providing “an injection of fresh new thinking as the leasing sector becomes more mainstream”. 

While stepping away from everyday management, Brown confirmed that he would be actively involved in strategy planning with the new CEO Bruce and COO McMinn, drawing on his 25 years of contract hire experience and representing the interests of the shareholders. Brown has also been instrumental in developing the working culture at Fleet Alliance, which saw the company being awarded Platinum status by Investors in People at the beginning of the year.

Andy Bruce, a former CEO of Lookers plc, 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.

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 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.

Andy Bruce, chief executive, Fleet Alliance

Fleet Alliance is the leading broker in the corporate and SME leasing market and the aim is to develop this side of the business as the market moves to EVs. 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.

Nigel McMinn, chief operating officer, Fleet Alliance

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).