Features
18 Oct 18

Votes are open for the three contenders for this year’s Hall of Fame

Who will be this year’s inductee into the International Fleet Hall of Fame? The Fleet Europe Awards Jury has narrowed down the field to three candidates who earned their fleet credentials working for some of the major OEMs. 

Each year at the Fleet Europe Awards, this prize stands out. Winners don’t just get an annual award, they’re allowed into a very select club, with lifelong membership. 

The International Fleet Hall of Fame is populated with fleet industry veterans who have each made a significant contribution to the industry as a whole. 

These are the three candidates still in the running to join the Walhalla of Europe’s fleet industry at the Fleet Europe Awards on 28 November in Barcelona. 


John Wallace (Volvo)

As the public face of the International Fleet Department at Volvo Cars, John (left) is familiar to many in the fleet, leasing, rent-a-car and data-provider community. 

  • John entered the operational leasing and fleet management sector in 1988, joining Ford Credit in 1993 to pilot an all-makes leasing approach.
  • In 1997 he moved to Volvo Car UK to set up a leasing and rental team, eventually heading the overall fleet department.  
  • In 2010, he moved to the international level, setting up a new development team at Volvo Car Corporation, also contributing to new product launch teams.
  • John’s current title is Director of Fleet Operations and Global Major Accounts (EMEA) at Volvo Car Corporation. As the head of the global major accounts team, he oversees a record number of multinational customers, a host of recent innovations, and growing recognition for Volvo’s environmental credentials. 

Franco Marianeschi (Maserati)

Born in Buenos Aires in 1973, Franco (middle) started out in the European fleet business at the Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car Sales Branch in Frankfurt in 2000, Franco soon rose to hold a variety of executive roles at Daimler AG’s International Fleet Sales department, including:

  • International Key Account Manager for Daimler Fleet Management
  • International Corporate Sales Manager for Mercedes-Benz Cars

In 2007, he joined Fiat, first at its Italian HQ, then back in Germany: 

  • International Key Account Manager (Corporate Sales) for Fiat Group Automobiles in Turin 
  • International Area Sales Manager in Turin
  • Director Fleet, RaC and Used Cars for Fiat Group Automobiles Germany AG in Frankfurt (from 2009 to 2013).

In April 2013, Franco joined the team at Maserati, as European Corporate Sales Manager, the position he still holds today. 


Simon Dransfield (Jaguar Land Rover)

Simon (right) is a well-known and respected industry professional with long and diverse experience in the Global fleet and business sector.  

  • In 1988, Simon joined Volvo Cars UK, where he went on to hold a wide range of roles in the company’s finance and fleet segments. 
  • In 1995, he joined Volvo Car Corporation in Gothenburg, where he was tasked with creating and leading the International Major Account business.
  • Prior to joining Jaguar Land Rover, Simon was involved in a range of entrepreneurial businesses, which included providing fleet expertise to a number of European OEMs.
  • Over the past seven years, Simon has developed a highly capable and motivated team at Jaguar Land Rover, where he is General Manager for Fleet & Business in Europe. 

Simon is married with three children and enjoys many sports, particularly golf – when time allows.

 

And now, it's up to you to decide who will be the 2018 Hall of Fame's inductee, vote here.

The winner will be revealed during the Fleet Europe Awards, the crowning event of the Fleet Europe Summit, on 26-27-28 November in Barcelona. Click here to learn more and to register.

 

Authored by: Frank Jacobs