Marshall Leasing has appointed Richard Baird as sales director for its fleet management business, taking over the role from Jonathan Ross who will leave the company at the end of the year.

Richard Baird, sales director at Marshall Leasing

Formerly the company’s new business development director, the new role includes responsibility for sales activities across new and existing customers for Marshall Leasing and Marshall Minibus. He will also become the company’s primary contact for vehicle manufacturers.

Baird said: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into this expanded role, including taking on overall responsibility for Marshall Leasing’s superb relationships with vehicle manufacturers. We’ve some ambitious business growth plans and together with our team, I relish the opportunity to work alongside our new managing director, Greg McDowell, in achieving our goals.”

An active board director for the Association of Fleet Professionals, Baird joined the Marshall Leasing board in 2017 and had worked alongside former managing director, Peter Cakebread, for more than 14 years. Jonathan Ross will continue as marketing director, the other part of his former role, until the end of the year.

Greg McDowell, managing director, added: “Richard is a well-recognised industry figure, in part due to his ongoing contribution to the fleet management sector through his trade association work. Richard’s significant fleet management and leasing experience, coupled with a superlative customer focus, will prove invaluable in supporting our customers with their transition to electric vehicles over the coming years.”

Headquartered in Cambridgeshire, Marshall Leasing has a fleet of around 8,500 cars, light commercial vehicles and minibuses in the UK. It also provides fleet management services across a broad range of services and businesses, and operates in the school minibus and bodyshop channels.