Welcome to Nexus’ new ‘Day in the Life’ series, where we speak to different members of the team and reflect on their career to date, where they see Nexus and the industry going, and a little bit about them outside their career.
So Gerry, how did you get started in the industry?
I began to understand the fleet industry through my time at British Gas, where fleet was always part of the DNA. With so many engineers on the road, managing the vehicles was critical – not just for operational efficiency but also for cost control. Rental and leasing played a big role in that, and I saw firsthand from a ‘fleet customer’ perspective how challenges like vehicle downtime and supplier reliability could create real pain points.
My next role was in asset management for another B2B company, which had a similar dynamic – engineers in commercial trades relying on well-managed fleets in order to do their jobs effectively. Bizarrely, the business I was at actually worked alongside Nexus for a few years via our leasing partner, but I wasn’t involved in that contract.
After nine and a half years I decided to leave that side of the industry, largely because I wanted something different. I had a short break and then received a call from a headhunter with things moving very quickly after that. Meeting Scott and the Exec team who are so key to delivering success.
What attracted you to Nexus?
First and foremost, it was the uniqueness of the business model. I was really intrigued by how it operates – managing over 550,000 vehicles without owning a single one. It’s just such a fascinating concept and I wanted to understand it fully.
Beyond that, I love a new challenge, and Nexus presented something different from what I’d done before. The team was another major factor, as I was impressed by the people and the culture right from the start. The company’s growth story is phenomenal and the opportunity to be part of the transformation and expansion was something I couldn’t pass up.
Having experienced that private equity cycle before and understanding the demands of it, I saw the journey that the business was going on and it excited me. What also stood out prior to joining was that Nexus is the best in class at what it does, and at that time it wasn’t shouted about enough in the market – we’ve certainly already changed that now. That potential growth and visibility made it an even more compelling opportunity.
What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?
A typical day for me at the moment is incredibly varied, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role. I’ve spent a lot of time understanding how the business works, what makes it tick and how the team works overall. Building trust with my direct team and ensuring they have the autonomy to drive things forward has been a key focus.
The role itself is all about transformation, change and growth. This involves keeping an eye on the market – how it’s shifting, what challenges and opportunities are emerging and how Nexus needs to evolve to stay ahead. Supplier relationships are also critical, so I spend time meeting key suppliers, visiting workshops, and strengthening those partnerships to ensure we’re working together effectively.
Customer feedback is another major focus of mine, understanding their experiences, both the good and the bad, so we can continuously improve. I’ve had conversations with competitors too, which I think is healthy in an industry where many people have been around for decades. For me, it’s not about coming in and changing everything but rather looking at it from a customer’s perspective and thinking ‘what would I want to see done differently’.
Nexus is, of course, a tech-driven business, so a lot of my time goes into thinking about how we leverage technology to expand into new markets and new territories. There’s definitely no such thing as a boring day here, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
Have you learnt anything new since starting at Nexus?
I’ve learnt a huge amount since joining Nexus. From an industry perspective, one of the biggest surprises for me was the sheer depth of data and support that Nexus provides to the market. As a customer in the past, I had no idea just how much insight Nexus offers and how it fits into the ecosystem between leasing companies and corporates. That was a real eye opener.
Beyond that, the industry itself has been fascinating. The scale of fleet ownership, particularly the number of bank-owned fleets, highlights the value of the sector in the UK, and shows that it has a clear direction. But at the same time, from an international perspective, the market feels quite disjointed with a lot of uncertainty.
Sustainability and the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) have also been major talking points in the industry and are the biggest challenges the sector is facing. I’ve personally experienced that transition – moving to an EV for two years and then switching back to petrol. As a user, I fully understand the challenges businesses and drivers face when making that shift.
Attending industry events, meeting suppliers and competitors and seeing where everyone is on their journey has been hugely insightful. There’s still so much to learn, but that is what makes it exciting. It’s been great to step into something different, start fresh and challenge myself to understand a whole new industry.
What do you enjoy most about working for Nexus, and what do you see for Nexus’ future?
What I enjoy most about working for Nexus is, without a doubt, the people. I know that sounds like the expected answer, but it’s absolutely true. The team has been incredibly open, honest, and welcoming, which has made settling in so much easier. They’ve accepted me and my very direct, blunt, and honest approach. There’s no politics, just a shared drive to move the business forward. Everyone has a positive intent, and we’re able to have direct, constructive conversations – which is exactly how I like to work.
Beyond that, the real excitement comes from the scale of opportunity. We’re in the middle of a transformation that’s changing how we think about customers, suppliers, and operations. We’re challenging the long-standing ways of working, not just because ‘that’s how it’s always been done’, but because we now have the capability to refine and improve. If we unpick the limitations, there’s always a slicker and more efficient way of doing things that looks better for the customers. The potential in our data alone is enormous. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what we can do with it, and as we delve into its full value, we’ll be able to make an even bigger impact on the industry.
Having the foundation laid in the UK opens up so many opportunities internationally. We want to be brave, make decisions and change the curve. The biggest opportunity, and challenge, for Nexus is taking the UK model and replicating that internationally. A lot of our customers already have international footprints, and when they understand what we offer and compare it to European or international counterparts, it is clear we are already ahead of the game. I think we will be in a position to expand our offering sooner than we originally thought, it’s really getting within reach.
We are constantly evolving, and that is really exciting. What makes Nexus so special is that it isn’t a business where you just maintain the status quo – it’s all about growth, change and transformation. We have the wonderful problem of having to prioritise our opportunities because there are so many. Watch this space because there’s some fantastic things to come.
What kind of changes do you see happening within the industry, over the next 12 to 18 months?
Over the next 12 to 18 months the biggest change in the industry will undoubtedly be the impact of electric vehicles (EVs) and the supporting infrastructure. Whether driven by regulation, OEMs or pricing models, EV adoption is going to be the defining challenge and opportunity for the industry and will shape the space over the next few years.
I had a call with the BVRLA, who are the body that look after the rental companies in the UK, which was focused on data. They recognise we have levels of data that nobody else in the industry has, we have such a unique perspective on the market and can bring some really useful insight.
The economy has also started to settle down, but you never know what is going to happen from that perspective, and any fluctuations could have an impact on the rental market. If leasing becomes more challenging or lead times become an issue, demand for vehicles will peak and then potentially drop again as conditions change.
But, circling back around, if you ask any industry professional what the biggest challenge will be over the next couple of years, the answer will be EVs.
What is your biggest career achievement, or standout moment, to date?
My biggest career achievement to date isn’t tied to a specific deal, financial success or hitting a target – it’s more about the journey I’ve taken and the opportunities I’ve created for both myself and others. Sometimes the biggest things that happen from a learning perspective are when things have hit the bottom, and you’ve had to recover back out of that.
I started at British Gas when I was 16 as an apprentice, and as soon as I finished the apprenticeship they supported me through university. After that I was an engineer for about nine years and then started on the management track. It was a lot of work but I had so many opportunities off the back of it, and although some people may say it’s about luck, it’s more than that. I had people believe in me and wanted to pass that onto others.
To be able to see the impact I’ve had on colleagues, and seeing the people I have worked with gain confidence, develop their skills and progress – whether that is within the same business or leaving to go elsewhere – is incredibly rewarding. Giving people the belief that they can succeed, just as others did for me, is something I value deeply.
If people have faith in you, and you have faith in yourself, I always believe you can go as far as you want and create your own path. So really, that is my biggest achievement, learning the true value of development and helping others see what they can achieve.
Aside from Nexus and the fleet industry, what else interests you?
Outside of Nexus, I’m big on health and well-being. Most mornings I go to the gym before work because it’s just a great place to clear your head. If you’ve had a bad day, have something lingering on your mind, or are even just feeling low, you can go to the gym and it completely clears you and snaps you back in place. It’s also incredible how often I’ve walked out of the gym and the solution to a problem I had has come straight into my head. You’ve given yourself that space to take a step back and look at things in a new way.
Beyond that, my wife and I travel a lot. We’ve been really lucky and there’s probably only a few countries still on my bucket list that I haven’t ticked off yet. I’m also a real adrenaline junkie. I’ve got a motorbike license and passed my private pilot license. I’ve got a share in a small plane at a local airport, and it’s great to just be able to go up in it.
My wife always jokes that as soon as I’ve ticked one thing off my bucket list, I move onto the next one. There’s always something else to strive towards, and more than anything, it’s important to just enjoy your life.
