Andrew French to lead Michelin solutions in UK, Ireland and Nordics

Michelin has appointed Andrew French, 38, as director of services and solutions for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. In the new role, French will have direct responsibility for Michelin solutions, which manages the tyres on more than 80,000 buses, coaches and trucks in these markets.

As well as heading a team looking after some of Michelin’s biggest European customers, French will be responsible for continuing the growth of new Michelin solutions technology into the marketplace. This includes the Effitrailer telematics system and a suite of new app-based digital tools to boost fleet efficiency, including MyInspection and MyRoadChallenge.

Commenting on his appointment, French says: “This is a really exciting time to be stepping up to lead the Michelin solutions business. Everything we’re doing as a company focuses on reducing customer pain points in all areas of mobility – and our solutions have expanded far beyond purely tyre management contracts.

“Each day my team is having conversations with fleets about projects ranging from improving the effectiveness of daily fleet inspections, to pretty much eradicating instances of tyre-related trailer breakdowns at the roadside. Our goal is to offer a package of solutions which deliver absolute customer satisfaction.”

French brings more than 20 years of experience within Michelin to the role, having joined as an apprentice in August 1996. With a strong financial background, French qualified as a chartered management accountant in 2009 before being appointed as chief accountant for a small group of UK-based Michelin companies, going on to earn his place on the management team a year later.

In 2014 he became business partner controller for Michelin solutions in North Europe, a role which enabled him to use his wealth of management accounting and commercial experience. Most recently, from February 2017, he worked as key account manager for Michelin, responsible for the company’s multi product-line relationship with tyre distributor ATS Euromaster.

French, who is married with twins, will report to Chris Smith, Michelin’s sales director – B2B. He takes over from Paul Davey, who has held the role of Michelin solutions commercial director since the business was established in May 2013. Davey is due to retire in June 2018 after 44 years at Michelin.