People: New MD at car leasing business; Debt recovery team expands; and more
Zenith has appointed Joe Doyle as managing director of its first direct-to-consumer car leasing offer, ZenAuto, as it gears up for rapid expansion.
The former chief executive of HR Owen, Doyle will lead a dedicated team of 40 as the business invests for planned growth. The firm is also recruiting for a wide range of technical and development roles as it expands its online platform.
The UK’s largest independent leasing business, Zenith plans to grow ZenAuto to meet increasing demand from drivers for personal leasing options.
ZenAuto launched in March with all leading manufacturers on its site and is updating it regularly with new offers. The business operates direct to consumers and not via brokers to ensure a high level of service can be provided.
ZenAuto provides personal leasing; with personal contract hire (PCH) the driver pays a fixed lease cost over an agreed term and then returns the car at the end of the contract. Zenith expects rapid growth of PCH in the consumer market as motorists move away from traditional ownership models.
Tim Buchan, chief executive of Zenith, said: “ZenAuto is designed to make it easy for drivers to find and lease their next vehicle. We think that this, along with an increasing trend to borrow or rent things rather than own them, and the compelling value that leasing offers for many drivers makes for a significant opportunity to grow PCH’s share of the market. We anticipate over one million new PCH agreements in the market by 2022.”
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Keebles’ expanding debt recovery team has made two new appointments.
The seven-strong team – which has increased fee income by 50% in the last financial year – has recruited paralegal Curtis Broadhead and legal apprentice Elizabeth Willmore to meet growing demand.
Specialising in commercial recoveries and representing clients in sectors including manufacturing and automotive, the department – which is located at the firm’s Leeds city centre offices – has also sustained an 80% plus recovery rate for debts across 2015-2018.
Keebles partner Rachel Crookes, who heads the department, said: “Our new appointments reflect our commitment to sustaining a top class service to our clients and to developing young talent. It’s also tremendous that our reputation and most successful year to date has been recognised in our awards shortlistings.”
A champion of developing its people, the team has supported three members through CILEx qualifications, with one employee achieving Chartered Legal Executive status.
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Laura Hayes has joined Leeds-based PD tax Consultants as part of their graduate recruitment programme. PD Tax has a strong reputation for charities, inheritance tax, property tax as well as preparing tax strategies, business sales, reorganisations and remuneration planning. Hayes will primarily assist with tax research and preparing tax advice and tax returns for clients.
Hayes graduated from the University of Bristol in 2014 with a First Class Honours degree in German and Spanish. As part of her year abroad, she completed an internship at the German Federal Central Tax Office.
During this time, she was able to increase her knowledge of national and international tax law and develop her skills in interpreting legislation, independent research and liaising with clients. Hayes is currently studying towards the ATT tax qualification.
With a new office in Manchester opening in 2017, Paul Davison, Principal, said that “if 2018 is anything to go by, then 2019 should be another great year hence why graduate recruitment is so important to our thriving and growing business.”
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Global training company Dale Carnegie has appointed the Juliette Dennett as the new President of the International Dale Carnegie Franchise Association (IDCFA).
The global training brand, whose founder wrote How to Win Friends and Influence People, has 185 offices in 80 countries.
Dennett, from Mirfield, is the Managing Director of Dale Carnegie Northern England, is not only the first female leader to take on this prestigious role, but also the first outside of North America. Liaising between the Dale Carnegie Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and franchisees, Dennett’s new role will involve her developing global strategies and improving network collaboration.
With over 25 years experience in the organisation, Dennett initially joined the company as a sales advisor, quickly becoming a qualified trainer and eventually taking over as Managing Director of the Northern England operation in 2010. Specialising in leadership development and culture change her vast array of clients have included Vertu Motors, adidas and Morrisons.
Dennett officially took over her new role at Dale Carnegie’s 70th annual convention in Orlando earlier this month. She said: “I’m excited to have this opportunity to strengthen our global network and the impact we have with our clients. The Dale Carnegie brand is one of the most respected in the market and through great collaboration we will make this even stronger”
