Fleetsafe Group Reorganisation And New Appointments Paves Way For Risk Management Expansion Drive

02 April 2004

A major re-organisation and expansion of the Fleetsafe Group is announced that will pave the way for further expansion later this year.

The Crowthorne-based Fleetsafe Group brings together a unique suite of risk management services, from three independent limited companies, DriveTech (UK), Risk Answers and DATA Programmes.

The Fleetsafe Group's vision, supported by both academic and governmental thinking, is to strengthen its market-leading position through identifying and reducing risks faced by drivers and employers. In partnership with the customer, the Fleetsafe Group helps create a deeper understanding of a company's exposure to risk and associated costs, formulating a sound financial case and an action plan for improvement.

The changes see Chris Howell, who founded multi-award-winning DriveTech (UK) almost 15 years ago, become chairman of the Fleetsafe Group.

As a result Jim Kirkwood has joined DriveTech (UK) as managing director and Steve Harris has been appointed chief executive of DATA Programmes. Jeremy Hay, a founding director of Risk Answers, continues as chief executive of the company.

Mr Kirkwood has joined DriveTech from Fujitsu-Siemens Computers where his responsibilities embraced the organisation's UK Consumer Business, which included the selling of desktop PCs and laptops into some of the UK's leading retailers.

Meanwhile, Mr Harris is recognised as one of the UK's foremost experts on visual software development technologies. With more than 20 years experience in the UK software industry he has provided solutions and advice to a wide variety of organisations and industries from police forces to Formula 1 race teams.

Mr Howell said: ‘ We have a board-level management team that embraces vast industry knowledge and also, crucially, brings new thinking and innovative ideas to the fleet risk management industry.

‘The Government, Health and Safety Executive and the police have combined to ensure that businesses with both large and small fleet operations should have the management of occupational road risk at the top of their agendas.

‘We will be combining our best practice experience built up over many years with fresh strategic and practical thinking to enable fleets to manage their vehicles and their at-work drivers effectively and efficiently while embracing the raft of recent and imminent legislation.’

In his role as chairman across all three companies Mr Howell said: ‘Delegating day-to-day management of the businesses now enables me to focus on specific projects. This will include existing projects such as the recent Speed Awareness Scheme and Safer Rider initiative both with Thames Valley Police, while instigating new projects such as work on a global level in conjunction with the Transport Research Laboratory.

‘In addition we are finalising a number of new initiatives which will be announced in the near future and will further embrace e-commerce as a mechanism for reducing fleet risk. While this will involve the whole group it will focus on the increasing development of DATA Programmes as we build the company into becoming the premier technology solution provider for professional driver risk management.’

The Fleetsafe Group provides a comprehensive three-stage driver and vehicle audit trial, which is essential for effective and best-practice compliance with health and safety legislation. It comprises:

• Stage one - a comprehensive company-wide fleet risk assessment working with a client's senior management to quantify and manage their current risks.
• Stage two - sees the assessment of all staff that drive a vehicle on company business to determine their risk rating.
• Stage three - provides targeted training solutions for those drivers who are deemed to be at risk.

Additional company information

DriveTech (UK) Limited - is a leading driver training company which provides a comprehensive range of tailored and targeted driver training solutions from on-road familiarisation to anti-kidnap training. It has won the Institute of Transport Management 'Fleet Award For Driver Training' in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the European award for 2004.

Risk Answers Limited - a specialist independent total vehicle risk management company founded in 2001 by a number of fleet experts to provide professional and dedicated fleet risk management consultancy.

DATA Programmes Limited - founded in 2002 it provides CD-Rom or online assessment programmes to establish individual at-work driver exposure to risk and individual risk ratings. In addition, DATA Programmes has developed integrated database systems that enable comprehensive driver audit trails and cost analysis.

Fleetsafe Group biographical details

Chris Howell, chairman Fleetsafe Group: After 10 years in Thames Valley Police, mostly in traffic, Chris set up DriveTech in 1990. With a formidable blue chip client list and many fleet supplier alliances DriveTech is now one of the top fleet driver training companies in the UK. With the increasing focus on fleet risk in the 21st century he was a co-founder of Risk Answers in 2001 and launched DATA Programmes himself a year later.

Jeremy Hay, chief executive, Risk Answers: Jeremy has worked across a wide range of industry sectors as both an employee, including both HR director and managing director of Britain's largest fleet management company Arval PHH, and as a consultant. The sectors he has covered include financial services, motor industry, construction, cable television, retail and he has an extensive track record in producing effective results working with people both in the corporate and retail areas. Previous organisational involvement includes Financial Times, Express Dairies, HSBC Gibbs, Warburgs, AT and T, John Laing and LeasePlan. He gained an extensive health and safety background working in the construction industry and then after 14 years in the vehicle sector was a co-founder of Risk Answers in 2001.

Jim Kirkwood, managing director DriveTech (UK): Jim has joined DriveTech (UK) Ltd from Fujitsu-Siemens Computers. While at FSC, he was responsible for the UK Consumer Business selling desktop PCs and laptops into some of the UK's leading retailers such as Dixons and Comet, while also leading the company's expansion into the Government-driven and rapidly emerging Home Computer Initiative. Prior to joining FSC, Jim held senior roles with Barclays Insurance, LG, the Eastman Kodak Company and Infobank International, a company he led to being the third fastest growing company in the UK in 2002 as assessed by Deloitte and Touche.

Steve Harris, chief executive, DATA Programmes: Steve is recognised as one of the UK's foremost experts on visual software development technologies. With more than 20 years experience in the UK software industry he has provided solutions and advice to a wide variety of organisations and industries from police forces to Formula 1 race teams. Steve has worked actively to establish a leading-edge position in the technology sector, authoring and co-authoring more than a dozen textbooks on IT-related topics, and regularly speaking at major conferences and seminars in the UK and overseas, and is an accredited MCT and MCSD. His most recent book was ‘Moving to ASP.NET’ (published by Apress) which has received critical acclaim from professional reviewers and independent readers alike.