Leadership

We’re a people powered business that’s led by inspiring and motivating leaders. Take a closer look at our leadership team…

Holding board

HoldingBoard_LordRose
Lord Stuart Rose

Chairman

Stuart has over 40 years’ experience in the consumer and retail sectors, during which time he has served as Chief Executive at Argos plc, Booker plc, Arcadia Group plc and Marks & Spencer plc, and as Chairman of Ocado between 2012 and 2021. Alongside chairing Zenith, he also chairs EG Group. He was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility, and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2014.

Richard Jones, CEO of Zenith
Richard Jones

Chief Executive Officer

Richard joined Zenith as CEO in March 2025 and is responsible for setting and executing the Group’s long-term strategy, leading on delivery of the Group’s operating and performance priorities, leading the Executive team and developing the broader people and leadership capabilities across the Group. Richard has a 30-year career in financial services across banking, pensions and insurance. This includes 10 years’ leadership experience in automotive leasing and finance, having been Managing Director of Transport at Lloyds Banking Group, which included the Blackhorse and Lex Autolease businesses. More recently Richard was Managing Director at MotoNovo, part of the Aldermore Group and a member of the Group’s Executive Committee. Richard has held positions on many industry bodies including Chair of the Finance & Leasing Association from 2016 to 2021 and is a current member of the BVRLA Board. He attended Sheffield Business School, graduating in business studies, and is a qualified chartered management accountant. He has also completed the Harvard Business School Executive leadership programme.

Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips

Chief Financial Officer

Mark has overall responsibility for the finance functions of the Group. He also leads the Group’s risk management, treasury, and legal team. Before joining Zenith in 1998, Mark was the Group Financial Controller at Holliday Chemical Holdings plc and an Audit Manager with Andersen. Mark holds a BA (Hons) in economics from Newcastle University and is an ICAEW chartered accountant.

Patrick Fox - Investor and Bridgepoint Director
Patrick Fox

Investor and Bridgepoint Director

Patrick is a Senior Partner at Bridgepoint. He joined the Firm in 2002, establishing the Bridgepoint purchasing scheme delivering procurement best practice and savings to investee companies. Patrick has worked extensively on investments across Europe and currently sits on the boards of Cambridge Education, EVAC, Zenith and TuvTurk. Prior to joining Bridgepoint he worked for JP Morgan and BNP Paribas. In addition, he has management experience in the engineering and food sectors. Patrick is a graduate of Oxford University.

HoldingBoard_GuyWeldon_Bridgepoint
Guy Weldon

Investor and Bridgepoint Director

Guy is Group Managing Partner and Head of Investment Activities at Bridgepoint. He is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, co-Chair of the Bridgepoint Europe Investment Committee and Chair of Bridgepoint Credit. He has worked extensively on private equity transactions across Europe over a 30-year career and served on numerous Boards. He is also Chair of the Campaign Board of Durham University.

Manisha Patel
Manisha Patel

Assistant General Counsel and Group Secretary

Manisha joined Zenith in 2012. Prior to joining the Group, Manisha completed her training at DLA Piper and before moving to Pinsent Masons on qualification. While at Pinsent Masons, Manisha was seconded to Speedy Hire plc and Synthomer plc. She earned her LLB in law and German with honours from the University of Hull and completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of Sheffield.

Executive committee

Ian Hughes
Ian Hughes

CEO – Corporate and Consumer Division 

Ian is responsible for the both the Group’s Corporate and Consumer division, including in-life operations, accident management, daily rental, customer services, new customer acquisition and existing relationship management along with the LCV proposition. He has worked with Zenith for over a decade, having joined as Commercial Director in 2010. Prior to Zenith, Ian has held a wide range of roles with Budget Rent-a-Car from 1991 to 1998, Honda from 1998 to 2005, and Citroen from 2005 to 2010.

Martin Jenkins
Martin Jenkins

CEO – Commercial Division and Group Strategy Director 

Martin leads the Group’s Commercial division and supports the Board on Group strategy. He joined Zenith in January 2018 after a 28-year career with Deloitte where he was a Corporate Finance Partner for 17 years and latterly eight years as Practice Senior Partner for the Yorkshire and North East region. While with Deloitte, Martin focused on M&A and strategic advisory projects and worked across the leasing and automotive services industry including as an adviser to Zenith for over 15 years before ultimately joining the business. He holds a BA in Human Geography and Economics from London University, Queen Mary College, and is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the ICAEW.

Andrew Kirby
Andrew Kirby

Group Transformation Director

Andrew leads the Group’s transformation programme, having previously been CEO of the rental team. Prior to joining Zenith in 2013 he worked in the fleet industry at director level for over 15 years, in roles including sales and marketing, customer relationships, customer services and operations, employee schemes, strategic development, merger integrations and change management. He holds an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management and a Sloan Fellowship MSc from the London Business School.

Ian Gibson
Ian Gibson

Chief Information Officer

Ian devises and delivers the strategy for technology, systems and information services and also leads business change and transformation across the Group with specialism in acquisition separation and integration. Ian joined the Group in 2015, has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and has held various Board level roles across technology, transformation, operations and finance in different sectors having had an earlier career as a Management Consultant and Accountant. Ian is a management graduate of the University of Bradford and an ICAEW chartered accountant.

Stuart Price
Stuart Price

Chief People Officer

Stuart leads the people team and is responsible for delivering the people strategy, and creating a culture that attracts, develops and retains an engaged and high performing workforce. He also leads our technology, systems, and information services strategy, and business change and transformation across the Group. He brings experience in leading mergers and acquisitions, organisational design and change, culture and performance improvement, and leadership development. Before joining Zenith in January 2021, he worked in the food, retail and healthcare sectors. Stuart attended the University of Southampton and holds a post-graduate certificate in business and executive coaching and psychology from Leeds Beckett University.

Nicola Brown - Group Finance Director
Nicola Brown

Group Finance Director

Nicola is responsible for financial reporting and control, financial planning and analysis, and leading the finance function through our technology transition. Prior to joining Zenith in 2023, Nicola spent ten years at Walgreens Boots Alliance in several finance roles including Commercial FD for Boots UK and Global IT FD. Nicola also worked at Carphone Warehouse Plc and started her career on the Centrica Plc graduate programme, working across various functions and locations, including the US and Canada. Nicola has a BSc in mathematics & accounting from Newcastle University and is an ACCA fellow.

James Edwards
James Edwards

Group General Counsel

James leads the Group’s legal and compliance teams and company Secretariat. As a member of the Executive Committee and other key working committees, he provides strategic direction from a legal and regulatory perspective. Before joining Zenith in 2016 he worked at HSBC (including a one year secondment in the United States) and at the Kelda Group. He holds an LLB from the University of Hull and has completed a legal practice course at the York College of Law.

Life at Zenith

We strive to be the best employer that we can be and our people are central to our success. Find out more about our culture.