Hertz names Gil West as CEO after Stephen Scherr steps down
Hertz, a global rental car company, has announced the appointment of Gil West as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2024. He will succeed Stephen Scherr, who is leaving the company after serving as Chairman and CEO for the last two years.
In his new role, West brings a wealth of leadership experience across the aviation, automotive, and food and brewing industries. He has served as the chairman of Riptide Brewing Company for the past five years. Prior to that, he held positions at Cruise as Chief Operating Officer and at Delta Airlines as COO.
West will also join the board of Hertz. Welcoming him to the leadership team, Tom Wagner, Vice Chair of the Hertz Board of Directors, said, “We are thrilled to have Gil join Hertz as Chief Executive Officer. Gil's experience as a successful leader in operationally intensive businesses will further strengthen the Company's world-class team of over 27,000 global employees who work tirelessly to deliver outstanding service to customers daily. We appreciate Stephen's contributions over the last two years, including his work on key strategic initiatives, which Gil will now lead in their continued execution.”
Colin Farmer, Lead Director of the Hertz Board of Directors, added, “Gil's success in leading over 70,000 people at Delta and orchestrating highly effective operational turnarounds will position him well to lead Hertz. He will be able to build upon the strategic projects begun during Stephen's tenure, including improvements to technology, commercial partnerships, and the revitalisation of our value brands. Gil's prior experience in transportation, travel, and mobility will give him an important perspective on how to thoughtfully lead Hertz into the future.”
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West expressed, “I am excited to join Hertz and build on its extraordinary family of brands and global network. With a 106-year history, Hertz enjoys incredible brand strength and customer loyalty, and I look forward to working with the team to achieve its potential for our customers, team members, and shareholders.”
Outgoing CEO Scherr commented, “Over the last two years, the Hertz team has worked diligently to put the company on track for long-term success in a changing automotive landscape. Hertz is well-positioned for the future, and I look forward to seeing the company execute on its strategy as a leader in mobility.”