Moorthy leads Arval UK in a year of many ‘firsts’
Arval UK’s first female Managing Director, Lakshmi Moorthy has championed the fleet and sustainable mobility specialist to achieve a list of industry and company firsts in her first year.
Since her appointment in March 2021, Moorthy has led the Arval UK team through the post-pandemic period, with many highlights including:
• Increasing customer numbers by 11% and growing its leased fleet by 4% (in a market that is flat), notwithstanding the pandemic and associated shortages. In doing so, Arval UK has consolidated its strong position as third largest in the UK market
• Growing its electric vehicle fleet to 29% and electrified cars to almost two thirds (62%) of those delivered year to date, supporting clients in their move to more sustainable fleets
• Delivering Arval’s first biodiversity scheme, 1 electrified vehicle = 1 tree, committing to plant more than 21,000 trees in the UK since its launch in 2021
• Commissioning the company’s first real-world eLCV driving performance study, focusing on driving performance under various conditions, to increase awareness and hence adoption of zero-emission vehicles among van fleets
• Championing customers’ use of zero-emission technology, sharing learning via the Leading the Charge campaign, to enable UK companies to prepare for the 2030 road transport decarbonisation agenda
• Winning the fleet industry’s first Wellbeing Award, focusing on employee welfare and well-being
• Launching the UK’s first e-Bike to employee leasing scheme
There is more to come in her years ahead, with new partnerships and innovation to help customers in their transition to sustainable modes of travel.
She said: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do at Arval and our people have had the passion to always focus on how we can support customers in these past tough few months, as well as the innovative thinking to find new solutions as needed to weather the challenges that the pandemic has forced our industry to face.
“During the last year, together we have innovated to overcome supply chain difficulties and keep our customers’ needs fulfilled. We also ensured that electrified and zero-emission travel becomes easier for our customers, with hands-on consultancy support to enable customers to switch to EVs and research to enable van fleets to make the switch to electrified LCVs.
“One of the highlights of the year has been to champion wellbeing in our industry, working collaboratively with our HR team and mental health first aiders to ensure that our employees remain resilient and feel supported, despite some of the challenges that our industry is facing right now. ‘’
Diversity and Inclusion (including gender, age, sexual orientation among others) is also a key goal of Arval UK, where women now represent 50% of its senior management team.
She continued: “I am confident that 2022 will be another strong year for our business, our people and our customers. To meet our goals, we need people who can think and act flexibly and innovatively, and I am proud to champion diversity in all its forms, including enabling all women to succeed and progress in our industry.”
Lakshmi Moorthy joined Arval UK in March 2021, after heading up Arval’s retail business as Global Retail Director at its head office in Paris. She has more than 22 years of experience in consumer and commercial finance roles, working in several countries including India, the UK and France. She joined Arval in 2015 from GE Capital, where she worked in various sales, marketing and business development roles.
