Europcar Mobility Group UK appoints Christian Øien as MD

Europcar Mobility Group UK and Ireland has appointed Christian Øien (pictured) as its managing director, with an aim to boost digital innovation and grow zero-tailpipe emissions solutions.

Gary Smith, the previous managing director, has retired following 14 years at Europcar.

Øien was previously managing director of the Nordic region and has significant experience in the logistics sector, prior to joining Europcar Mobility Group in 2018 as commercial director for Denmark.

Europcar said his strong business background will be key to developing Europcar’s role in the fleet, business travel, insurance and leisure travel markets.

Smith and Øien will work together for the next two months to ensure a smooth handover.

Øien said: “I am tremendously excited to be given the opportunity to lead the UK and Ireland business.

“Gary Smith has created a strong team with a clear focus on the mobility needs of businesses and individuals and I am looking forward to building on his success to ensure Europcar continues to deliver solutions that are fit for purpose as the market evolves.

“We know that businesses and individuals want to reduce their impact on the environment and vehicle rental, whether for a few days or long-term can help them achieve that goal.