New names take the wheel at Clydesdale and Ogilvie

IT'S been a busy week in the car hire industry, with Clydesdale Bank unveiling a corporate asset finance team to target the vehicle fleet market, while Stirling-based major player Ogilvie Fleet expanded into Northern Ireland.

Corporate asset finance directors Iain Corbett and Gordon Young joined the bank earlier this year from the former Fortis Lease operation. Young says: "The wholesale vehicle sector continues to suffer from a lack of funding capacity, with many lenders taking conservative lending positions. We have the added advantage that Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks are in a progressive phase in this area, without legacy business weighing us down."

Meanwhile Ogilvie has splashed out a "six-figure sum" to acquire Northern Ireland's Contraflex Contract Hire and Leasing. The purchase adds about 350 company cars and vans to Ogilvie's fleet of 10,000 vehicles.

Gary Kennedy has been appointed as area sales manager for Northern Ireland based in Belfast.