Fleet World Workshop Tools
Car Tax Calculator
CO2 Calculator
Van Tax Calculator
BiK Rates Company Car Tax

John Pryor to stand down from ACFO as he retires from fleet

Fleet industry stalwart John Pryor is to resign from ACFO ahead of his retirement from his job as fleet and travel manager at Arcadia Group.

John Pryor has been an ACFO member through Arcadia Group since 1993 and has held the chairman role since 2014

Pryor, who is a director and chairman at ACFO, will officially stand down from the board at the 2019 AGM on 12th June. He has served on the board since 2006 and was re-elected at last year’s AGM to serve a further three-year term. He’s also held the annually elected role of ACFO chairman since 2014, and has been an ACFO member through Arcadia Group since 1993.

Pryor said it was with “great sadness” that he was standing down from the board and chairmanship of ACFO, but added: “I am taking retirement from Arcadia after 30 years so will no longer be involved on a daily basis in the world of fleet operations or the growing strength of mobility. It therefore seemed to me to be inappropriate to continue as both a director and chairman.”

He continued: “There is so much changing in our industry that a body like ACFO, which changes and adapts, is needed more than ever.

“Fleet management is changing at a pace never seen before and the arrival of Mobility-as-a-Service, ‘big data’ and vehicle connectivity, plug-in vehicles and the eventual arrival of autonomous vehicles deliver new challenges for fleet managers to embrace in addition to established, but ever-changing ones, around taxation and legislation.

“Therefore, I believe that ACFO requires its chairman and directors to be actively involved in fleet on a full-time basis both to promote the organisation and its members’ views and promote fleet management as an industry and a career.”

Pryor, who will leave Arcadia on 31 August and commences his retirement with a three-month tour around the United States of America with his wife Anne, added: “I would like to thank all past and present ACFO members for the support they have given me over many years.

“Networking and learning from each other is one of the many benefits that ACFO offers its members who, as fleet managers, frequently, function in a silo within their respective organisations.

“I have loved every minute of my time with ACFO over more than 25 years and learned so much. I would encourage everyone who has fleet responsibility in whatever size of fleet to join and support the organisation, which I wish well for the future.”

Pryor, who will celebrate his 60th birthday in November while in the United States of America, added: “Following our United States trip, Christmas and the New Year at home I will decide what I want to do next regarding any work.”

His decision to resign from the ACFO board and Phil Redman’s decision to retire as an ACFO director at the end of 2018 means the organisation is seeking two new directors to be elected to the board at the AGM. Stewart Lightbody, head of fleet services at Anglian Water, was co-opted on to the board to replace Redman.

Meanwhile, Richard Baird, new business development director at Marshall Leasing, is also due to stand for re-election to the board at the 2019 AGM.

ACFO will hold a members’ ballot to elect three directors with the result being announced at the AGM. Following the AGM, the new six-strong board will meet to elect a new chairman.

For more of the latest industry news, click here.

Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.