The privately owned business operates a company car and van fleet of more than 11,500 vehicles but has traditionally focused on winning business with sub-100 vehicle fleets.

In recent years Ogilvie Fleet has invested heavily in the driver and fleet manager experience with new systems that have led to a string of awards.

Such developments have helped Ogilvie Fleet to start to penetrate the larger fleet sector and sales and marketing director Nick Hardy said: ‘We have increasingly shown that we are able to win major contracts in competition with some of the UK’s largest contract hire and leasing companies and David’s appointment will further enable Ogilvie Fleet to win business from companies operating several hundred vehicles.

‘During his career David has focused on the large fleet sector and his appointment will provide the springboard for Ogilvie’s expansion in that sector.’

Raponi joins from Fleet Logistics where as business development director he was responsible for large national and international sales.

Starting his automotive career within car manufacturing, he has gone on to gain 14 years experience in the leasing and fleet management industry – working for three international leasing companies – he also spent five additional years working in the UK and United States daily rental industries.

He concluded: ‘After leaving an international role with Fleet Logistics I’m looking forward to returning to the UK leasing industry where I can focus once again on the needs of this market. Ogilvie Fleet is very personable and that is a side of the leasing industry that has faded over many years as far as customers are concerned, particularly with the major providers.

‘Larger fleets will view the Ogilvie Fleet way of doing business as a breath of fresh air compared with what they have been used to. Ogilvie Fleet is very much open for large fleet business and I am confident that the company will achieve its growth objectives over the coming years.’