DAIMLER Fleet Management (DFM) has strengthened its offering to UK customers by recruiting no fewer than four top sales specialists.
Their arrivals come as DFM continues to expand its multi-brand contract hire and leasing service to fleets large and small, across both private and public sectors.
As part of the Mercedes-Benz Group, DFM shares the brand’s commitment to excellence and passion for customer service, but also offers solutions for all makes of cars and vans to its growing customer base.
Most senior of the new appointments is Simon Barr, who joins as new business sales manager. Simon’s track record includes nearly 20 years in the fleet industry, during which time he has developed a detailed knowledge of the public sector and extensive experience of helping operators integrate electric vehicles into their fleets.
He said: “This new opportunity, and the whole ethos of Daimler Fleet Management, is perfectly matched to my own consultative approach to the fleet business. I’m excited to be joining a company which blends innovative thinking with a passion for delivering good old-fashioned customer service.”
Oliver Offredy, meanwhile, spent the last six years in the fleet sales team of Mercedes-Benz Retail Group, in London, before moving to DFM to take up the role of internal account manager. As well as an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Mercedes-Benz product range, Oliver’s background has given him a deep understanding of the needs of end users and brokers.
He said: “During my time with Mercedes-Benz I’ve seen DFM in action and I’m looking forward to working with, and learning from, a hugely experienced team.”
The position of fleet sales manager, with responsibility for supporting specialist channel customers such as bodyshops, and rental and chauffeur operators, has been filled by Matthew Pretorius.
Matthew worked previously for a leading vehicle solutions provider where he was responsible for large corporate and public-sector customers. His family has a long history with Mercedes-Benz, of which Daimler Fleet Management in the UK is a part – his grandfather owned a Mercedes-Benz franchise and his father worked on the C-Class production line.
He said: “I have an in-built passion for the brand, but that’s allied to a breadth of experience which is vital in my new job at DFM, which supplies not only Mercedes-Benz vehicles but also cars and vans by other manufacturers.”
DFM’s new business sales manager for the Midlands and North is Ashley Boaden, whose 14 years of automotive experience have taken him through retail and and fleet roles, most recently as new business fleet sales manager for a large car manufacturer.
He brings extensive industry knowledge and an understanding of sales processes from franchise level to supporting major, ‘blue-chip’ customers. “It’s a very exciting time to be taking up this opportunity,” he enthused. “DFM is striving to raise the industry standard for fleet management, to ensure that every customer receives exceptional service, and I’m delighted to be part of the team driving that ambition forward.”
Welcoming the new recruits, Daimler Fleet Management general manager Patricia Wolfe said: “We’re delighted to have four such experienced, customer-focused professionals on board. Our continuous investment in people underlines our aspiration to offer our customers a truly bespoke and specialist fleet consultation service.”
