We are proud to announce the appointment of Joanne Machin as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at DRIVE. A leasing and procurement specialist with more than twenty years’ experience in senior roles across the industry.
Critically, Ms. Machin’s considerable and relevant experience of the OEM – Fleet Management ecosystem will be of immediate use to DRIVE. For example, while at LeasePlan, which was sold by Volkswagen to TDR Capital for US$4.0bn in 2016, Ms. Machin led Global Sales & Marketing in 33 jurisdictions for 5 years.
Global companies are planning actively for the sustainable transition from internal combustion engines (ICE’s) to EVs. This transition places demands on fleet managers, car rental and car sharing platforms, OEMs, charging networks, brokers and dealers, and drivers themselves which are growing and becoming more complicated. DRIVE is well-positioned in the EV ecosystem due to the installed base that it has built, its fleet management expertise, and the market’s requirement for an integrated dashboard providing the data that will enable fleet financing, driver performance optimization and event management.
Since November 2019 when VIVA Investment Partners AG (VIP) acquired DRIVE, the company has secured major contracts, improved the management team with leading technology executives, and expanded into the EU. It has attracted investment from Capital Innovators in the UK, a leading technology venture capital fund, as well as from John Porter and other technology investors.
Julie Meyer, CEO of VIP, and Board Director of DRIVE said:
“It is a coup for DRIVE to attract the talent of Jo Machin. She will ensure that DRIVE becomes a strategic asset for the EV ecosystem.’.
Commenting on her appointment, Joanne Machin said:
“I have spent much of my career in automotive leasing. It is an industry which has developed considerably in that time. As I join DRIVE, my commitment to the industry remains, not least in leading a company which has such a contribution to make as automotive leasing evolves further. There is work to be done but I am intent that DRIVE will play a pivotal role in the industry’s next stage, as we all move from ownership to usership.”
