Chris Taylor joined Allied in July 2025 ago as our Fleet manager – find out more about what he gets up to in his day job, and about the time he took on F1 legend Nigel Mansell on the race track!
Tell us about the Fleet Manager role at Allied. What does your job involve day-to-day?
My job is essentially to support anyone in the business who relies on a vehicle. And when you look at the variety of vehicles we run, that keeps every single day different.
We’ve got rental vehicles, wheelchair‑accessible vehicles, mobile tech vans, the parts vans, company cars, and even the speedway riders’ vans.
I never know what any given day is going to involve. I might get one call in a day, or I can get 50 calls in one afternoon. That variation is what makes it exciting. My aim is always the same: make sure every vehicle is reliable, available and fit for purpose, whenever it’s needed. Ultimately, I’m here to fix problems, keep things moving and support people.
So, you work with any department with running vehicles?
Exactly. If there’s a company vehicle involved, I’m in the loop. I’ve even dealt with customer‑related issues, working with colleagues in Warranty or Production to resolve things like windscreen replacements or urgent repairs.
A lot of the role is relationship‑driven. I bring long‑standing industry contacts with me, and those connections can help us source the right parts, avoid unreliable suppliers and solve problems quickly. At the same time, I enjoy building new relationships on Allied’s behalf and having that network of trusted people you can pick up the phone to.
What were you doing before you joined Allied?
I spent most of my career with Proximo, one of Allied’s rental competitors. I’d joined Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car during university, went back after graduating, and then moved to Proximo in 2008. Over 15 years, I worked my way up from handling insurance claims to being Hiring Manager and Fleet Manager, overseeing a fleet of around 1,800 vehicles and a team of nine or ten people.
I was responsible for buying and selling vehicles, overseeing mechanical and bodywork repairs, managing multiple divisions – including taxis and mobility vehicles – and meeting regularly with directors to plan fleet strategy. Because Proximo worked closely with Allied for years, I already knew a lot of the team, including Used Sales Manager, Phil Nelson, and I’d visited the Glasgow site a couple of times.
The scale of Allied always impressed me. So, when the opportunity came along for me to join Allied, it felt like a natural fit. I knew the environment and I knew it was a place I could make a real impact.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
My role is constantly developing, and that’s what I enjoy most about it. When I arrived in July 2025, I came in with no departmental bias and a completely open brief. I love being someone people across the business can depend on. If someone asks for help, there’s a reason they’ve come to me. Maybe they’re stuck, maybe something’s urgent or maybe they just need another pair of hands. If I can help someone finish their day without carrying stress home to their family, that’s meaningful to me.
I also enjoy getting hands‑on. One day I might be moving vans at the bus depot; the next I’m inspecting vehicles with the mobile tech team, checking what’s inside them and seeing what can be reused. I treat every vehicle like it’s my own, because that’s how you should treat company property – with care and respect.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
Communication is always the biggest challenge in any remote role, not just here. I believe strongly in replying to messages, returning calls and maintaining clear contact. It keeps things moving and prevents small issues becoming big ones.
I always try to return calls the same day, even if I’m travelling or settling into a hotel; even if it’s just a quick acknowledgement of, “I’ve got your message, but I need some time,” that respect is important.
Gerry Facenna rang me once at half past nine at night. I’d been putting the kids to bed, but I returned his call 20 minutes later because, if the owner of the business is ringing you, he could be stuck somewhere, there could have been vehicles stolen, he could want somebody in the area where I live to rush out to a customer. Yes, it’s important to have down time, but equally, that’s the job and problems don’t only happen from nine to five.
The other challenge is systems – making sure we have accurate, up‑to‑date information on vehicles, MOTs, tax dates and defects. I’ve been working closely with colleagues to ensure the business has reliable visibility of all that. For example, we recently refined the MOT and tax reporting down to a very small, accurate list we can manage proactively. That’s a huge improvement and something we’re continuing to build on.
What are your impressions of Allied’s company culture?
The culture is positive, supportive and people‑focused. From my first week, I felt trusted – there’s no micromanagement, just clear expectations and confidence in my ability to get on with the job.
I also appreciate the benefits and the effort that goes into supporting staff, whether that’s through discount schemes, flexible support during difficult times or simply the quality of the facilities.
And what does your life look like outside of Allied?
I’ve been married nearly ten years, and we have two daughters, ages eight and five. Family time is everything to us. We love days out, visiting grandparents and cousins, and heading to the North Wales coast when the weather’s good. My eldest plays football now, so weekends often involve matches and training.
One unexpected blessing was in 2020 when my youngest was born. It was just before COVID really hit, and I was placed on furlough right at the start of the pandemic. That meant I had eight months at home during her first year, instead of just standard paternity leave. At the time it was worrying, but looking back, I realise how precious and how lucky that was.
We also enjoy simple things – watching Gladiators or World’s Strongest Man. My youngest is daft for World’s Strongest Man; she watches it then runs around the house trying to lift things that are way too heavy for her.
We hear you’ve got a big background in motorsport too, tell us a bit about that.
Motorsport has been a huge part of my life. I started karting when I was eight and competed against drivers who went on to race professionally – even in Formula One feeder series. My dad built my engines in the garage, and we’d turn up with a little trailer next to families who had motorhomes and big budgets; we made the most of what we had.
Later, I coached kids from ages six to about 14, some of whom now race for major manufacturers. I still help young drivers and families where I can. It’s rewarding to see them progress.
That background is part of why I enjoy supporting Allied’s speedway riders – I understand how hard they work behind the scenes, and likewise, they know how important it is to have somebody coordinating all that for them. It’s very much a mutual kind of respect.
You once raced against Nigel Mansell – what was that like?
One of the highlights of my life!
I was invited to a charity endurance karting event supporting Mansell’s charity, UK Youth. I didn’t know until I’d committed that he was actually going to be racing, along with his two sons, who both raced professionally.
It was a four‑hour race with teams of four or five drivers. I put in a strong qualifying lap and ended up doing the final 90‑minute stint for our team. By that point we were about a lap behind the leaders, and I knew Mansell was out on track.
Over the final stretch I started gaining on him, lap after lap. With about five minutes to go, I caught him and managed to unlap myself, then work my way into podium contention.
The final laps were intense – he was defending hard, as you’d expect from a world champion. On the very last lap, I managed a move down the inside into a hairpin. I knew if I didn’t commit fully, he’d take the place back, so I made sure to hold the racing line on the exit. We crossed the line, and our team won.
The moment that stays with me is Mansell coming straight over afterwards saying, “How the hell did you do that?”
For someone I’d grown up watching – someone I considered a hero – that was surreal. There’s a photo of us talking after the race, and it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.
