De Lage Landen’s CEO Ronald Slaats has been appointed to the board of directors of Leaseurope, succeeding retiring board member Alain Vervaet of ING Lease Holding. Leaseurope represents the leasing and automotive rental industries in Europe and is composed of 45 Member Associations in 33 countries.

“It is an honor for me to be entrusted with this new role. I look forward to working with my peers from across Europe to ensure that the industry’s voice is heard loud and clear in Brussels and further afield. It is both a pleasure and a challenge to follow in Alain Vervaet’s footsteps. His experience of the leasing industry is second to none,” Slaats said.

“[Slaats] is an acknowledged expert within the leasing industry and a man of dedication at the helm of a truly pan-European and international institution. We are delighted that he has accepted to join our board of directors,” said Jukka Salonen, Leaseurope’s chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Alain Vervaet’s invaluable contribution to our industry and our Federation, where he has been actively involved as board member and also as Chairman from 2003 to 2005. He has spent his entire career in leasing and is considered by many as a pioneer. We wish him all the best,” he added.

When announcing his departure, Vervaet mentioned that there were “still many untapped opportunities for the leasing industry” and that going forward he wished that “the industry be better known as a reputable partner.” “Knowing Ronald well, I am confident that he will be a strong asset for the Federation,” he added.