Avril Palmer-Baunack
Key areas of expertise:
Avril has more than 25 years’ experience in leading businesses in the automotive industry in a number of senior executive and non-executive roles and was appointed as Non-executive Chairman in August 2019.
Current external appointments:
Currently executive Chairman of Constellation Automotive Group.
Previous experience
Previously held roles as Non-executive Chairman of Quartix plc, Non-executive Chairman of Redde plc, Executive Chairman of Stobart Group and Chief Executive Officer of Autologic Holdings plc and of Universal Salvage plc, Non-Executive Chairman of Safe Harbour Holdings plc
Joined Board:
August 2019
Committee membership:
- Remuneration Committee
- Nominations Committee Chairman
Martin Ward
Key areas of expertise:
Martin was appointed to the Board as CEO in February 2020 as the former CEO of Redde plc, having been in that role since 2011 after joining a subsidiary of the group as Managing Director in 2005. Martin has over 25 years’ insurance industry and vehicle sector experience.
Current external appointments:
None.
Previous experience
Jointly founded the Rarrigini & Rosso Group in 1994, a leading independent wholesale motor fleet, property and risk management insurance business, which was later acquired by THB plc in 2003. Martin has an MBA from Durham University.
Joined Board:
February 2020
Philip Vincent
Key areas of expertise:
Philip was appointed as CFO in July 2018. He has extensive experience in senior finance roles across a range of sectors worldwide.
Current external appointments:
None.
Previous experience
Regional Finance Director Asia Pacific of SABMiller plc and before that he was the Group Director of finance and control. Prior to SABMiller, Philip held several senior positions at BBC Worldwide, the largest commercial arm of the BBC, including three years as group CFO and Board Director. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having trained with KPMG.
Joined Board:
July 2018
John Pattullo OBE
Key areas of expertise:
John was appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in January 2019, Senior Independent Director in September 2019 and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in May 2022 and has a wide range of experience in a number of executive roles in the consumer goods and logistics sectors and non-executive roles across a range of other industries.
Current external appointments:
None.
Previous experience
Chairman of V Group until December 2020. Other previous non-executive roles include Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chairman of Electrocomponents plc, Chairman of NHS Blood & Transplant, Chairman of Marken Logistics and Chairman of In Kind Direct, a Prince’s charity. John was Chief Executive Officer of Ceva Logistics Ltd between 2007 and 2012. Before that, he worked for Exel plc/DHL where he led the EMEA logistics business and, prior to that, held a number of senior global supply chain appointments with Procter & Gamble.
Joined Board:
January 2019
Committee membership:
- Audit Committee
- Remuneration Committee Chairman
- Nominations Committee
Mark Butcher
Key areas of expertise:
Mark was appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in September 2019; since the Merger he has chaired the Audit Committee. Mark has more than 20 years’ public company experience including international accounting, corporate finance and banking transactions, as well as sitting on a number of public company boards.
Current external appointments:
Currently a Non-executive Director of Zytronic plc.
Previous experience
More than 20 years’ public company experience working predominantly for GPG (UK) Holdings plc, the UK investment arm of Guinness Peat Group plc, where he managed a significant proportion of group investments. Previously held roles as Non-Executive Director for National Milk Records plc and AssetCo plc.
Joined Board:
September 2019
Committee membership:
- Audit Committee Chairman
- Remuneration Committee
- Nominations Committee
Bindi Karia
Key areas of expertise:
Bindi was appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in May 2022. Bindi brings deep experience in technology and innovation having held senior board, investment and advisory roles across the technology ecosystem in Europe.
Current external appointments:
Bindi is currently a Venture Partner at Molten Ventures Plc, a European Technology Venture Capital Fund. Bindi is also an Advisory Board Member of CognitionX, Humanity Health and Wrisk Ltd and a World Economic Forum Member for the Digital Leaders of Europe. Bindi also serves on the University of East London Board of Governors, where she is also Chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee.
Previous experience
Bindi has previously held a variety of senior technology roles, including as a Digital Advisory Board member at The Very Group and Centrica, as well as senior roles at Silicon Valley Bank, Microsoft Ventures and PwC.
Joined Board:
May 2022
Committee membership:
- Audit Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Nominations Committee
Mark McCafferty
Key areas of expertise:
Mark was appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in February 2020. He had previously joined the board of Redde plc as Non-executive Director in March 2009, chairing the remuneration committee for a large part of his tenure. He brings extensive sector management and commercial experience, having spent six years as CEO of Avis Europe plc.
Current external appointments:
Currently an adviser to CVC Capital Partners as well as Chairman of the Warwickshire CCC board.
Previous experience
Prior to Avis, Mark was Group Managing Director of Thomas Cook’s global travel and foreign exchange business and before that spent seven years with Midland Bank International in corporate finance and international operations. He was CEO of Premiership Rugby until July 2019. Previously held non-executive directorships with HMV Group plc, Umbro plc and Horserace Totalisator Board (Tote).
Joined Board:
February 2020
Nicola Rabson
Key areas of expertise:
Nicola was appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in November 2022. Nicola is a well-known figure in the employment law world with significant experience advising public companies and other clients on people issues and governance, and on their strategic initiatives such as those relating to diversity and workplace culture.
Current external appointments:
Nicola is a partner in the London office of Linklaters LLP, she is also a Trustee of the Global Media Campaign to End FGM, Governor at Royal Russell School and Non-Executive Director at Kent Football Association.
Previous Experience
Nicola headed up the global employment and incentives practice of Linklaters LLP from 2014 until 2021 and has also sat on Linklaters LLP’s Remuneration Committee and London Executive Committee. Nicola is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and is a CEDR accredited mediator.
Joined Board:
November 2022
Committee membership:
- Audit Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Nominations Committee
Executive Directors
Martin Ward
Key areas of expertise:
Martin was appointed to the Board as CEO in February 2020 as the former CEO of Redde plc, having been in that role since 2011 after joining a subsidiary of the group as Managing Director in 2005. Martin has over 25 years’ insurance industry and vehicle sector experience.
Current external appointments:
None.
Previous experience
Jointly founded the Rarrigini & Rosso Group in 1994, a leading independent wholesale motor fleet, property and risk management insurance business, which was later acquired by THB plc in 2003. Martin has an MBA from Durham University.
Joined Board:
February 2020
Philip Vincent
Key areas of expertise:
Philip was appointed as CFO in July 2018. He has extensive experience in senior finance roles across a range of sectors worldwide.
Current external appointments:
None.
Previous experience
Regional Finance Director Asia Pacific of SABMiller plc and before that he was the Group Director of finance and control. Prior to SABMiller, Philip held several senior positions at BBC Worldwide, the largest commercial arm of the BBC, including three years as group CFO and Board Director. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having trained with KPMG.
Joined Board:
July 2018
United Kingdom & Ireland Management board
Tim Bailey
Tim is our go to expert on our fleet and service provision. He joined Northgate as Fleet Director in March 2018 and is responsible for all Fleet and Branch Operational activities for the Northgate and Auxillis brands. He has over 30 years of experience in the vehicle rental industry having worked both in the UK and Germany in various roles including Fleet Director for National Alamo/Europcar. Tim also holds executive responsibility for the Van Monster and Northgate Ireland, serves on the Management Board of the BVRLA (industry body) and chairs the Commercial Vehicle Committee.
Richard Clay
Richard is our UK&I – focused numbers expert and has been our UK&I Group FD for Redde Northgate since August 2021, with overall responsibility for the Finance function. He joined Redde Northgate in 2018, holding a variety of roles including Head of Group Strategy, FP&A and Investor Relations. Richard has had several senior finance and accountancy roles for nearly 25 years, principally in the financial services sector.
Diane Hames
Diane is our technology expert, helping us transform and keep pace with new technology and the digital needs of the business and customers. She joined Redde Northgate as Chief Information Officer in November 2020, having had extensive previous experience across a range of multinational businesses including in the food manufacturing, retail, and IT Services sectors.
James Kerton
James leads our legal, compliance and corporate governance teams, which help us to get things done in the right way and to stay compliant. James joined us as General Counsel and Company Secretary in January 2022 and has significant listed company and legal practice experience, with previous senior roles at Convatec Group plc, London Stock Exchange Group plc and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
Neil McCrossan
Neil is one of our biggest customer champions and knows just what our customers need, now and in the future. He joined Northgate as the UK Sales & Marketing Director in 2017 and has extensive industry experience including previous roles as CEO of Nexus and Vice President at National and Alamo Rent a Car UK & EMEA. He also holds executive responsibility for the Charged EV, Blakedale and FridgeXpress businesses.
Harvey Stead
Harvey is one of our biggest customer champions and knows just what our insurance customers need, now and in the future. With over 20 years’ experience at FMG, in 2020, Harvey was appointed Managing Director of the Redde businesses which includes FMG, Auxillis, FMG Repair Services and NewLaw, ensuring we keep delivering the highest level of customer service across the businesses.
Katie Tasker-Wood
Katie helps keep our business running smoothly as our Group Corporate Services Director since March 2020. Bringing her previous commercial and legal experience across multiple sectors with her, as well as having been Northgate’s Group Company Secretary & General Counsel since 2016, Katie has executive responsibility for the IT, HR and other Group corporate services, including Property, Procurement, Insurance, Change & Internal Communications.
Spain Management board
Jorge Alarcon
Jorge knows all there is to know about van rental services in Spain, having been the CEO of Northgate Espana since 2019, focussing the business and colleagues on building an ever-evolving array of mobility solutions that are unique to the Spanish marketplace. Jorge draws on over 15 years of experience leading strategy, business development and operations functions for industrial and rental companies as well as almost a decade at a global strategy consultancy.
Roberto Maestro
Roberto is our numbers expert in Spain. He joined Northgate Spain as CFO in 2021 from DS Smith a leading packaging solutions provider where he led the FP&A function for Southern Europe. Roberto brought extensive experience with him to his current role, having had various financial and strategic planning responsibilities across multinationals including the Uralita Group and URSA, where he was the financial director of its subsidiary in Russia.
Nacho Aliaga
Nacho knows just what our Spanish fleet customers need from us to support their business. He joined our Spanish business in 1997 and was appointed Director of Fleet in 2003. Nacho is responsible for the acquisition and management of our fleet in Spain.
Begoña López
Begoña helps our business grow in Spain. She joined Northgate in 2004, assuming the delivery of our commercial objectives across the north and south zones of the Spanish business in 2008. From 2011, she expanded her remit to include responsibility for the central zone and the Canary Islands, being appointed as Director of Operations and Development of Northgate Spain in August 2022.
Eduardo González de la Rocha
Eduardo is our sales and marketing expert in Spain. He joined Northgate in 2004 as Commercial Director having acquired lots of experience in similar roles for LeasePlan, Wolters Kluwer and AIG Life. Eduardo leads all the commercial divisions, marketing and communications teams in Northgate Spain.
Valle Rodríguez
Valle is our people’s person. She is willing to go the extra mile to make our team’s work environment better so we can give a better service to our clients. Valle joined Norghate Spain in 2022. She brought more than 25 years of HR experience in very diverse companies like Amadeus, where she implemented the HR Business partner approach for all corporate functions, AMB-Rexel, Office Depot or Astra Zeneca.
Teresa Romo
Teresa is our sustainability expert, helping create a greener future for our customers and our business. She joined Northgate Spain as director of development and sustainability in 2021 and leads on the development and promotion of our sustainable automotive business solutions. Teresa joined us with over 15 years’ experience in the sustainability space, including her last role as head of urban mobility at Iberdrola.