From brand creation to Managing Director
Rhian Burrell steps into the role of Managing Director just over a year after joining Vertellus as Head of Marketing, with former MD Nigel Baxter moving into the role of Chairman. Nigel has played a central role in shaping Vertellus’ direction and growth as Managing Director, and will continue to support the business closely in his new role as Chairman.
Over the past 12 months, Rhian has focused on embedding herself fully within the business — learning it from the inside, understanding what makes Vertellus distinctive day to day, and helping to align strategy, creativity and delivery across the organisation. Her appointment reflects both her impact to date and the confidence of the shareholders in her leadership.
Rhian has also been closely connected to the Vertellus journey since its inception, having played a pivotal role in the creation and launch of the brand in 2022 while running her own marketing consultancy.
In her new role, Rhian will lead Vertellus UK, with a focus on building on the company’s strong foundations, strengthening what already works, and evolving the business to ensure it continues to deliver meaningful, commercially focused results for customers and partners.
Rhian commented: “The last year at Vertellus has been about much more than a job title. It’s been about truly understanding the business from the inside and seeing first-hand the impact we can have for our customers when strategy and delivery align. I’m incredibly proud to be leading Vertellus and to be working alongside such a talented and committed team as we continue to build momentum and shape the next chapter of the business.”
Nigel Baxter said: “The Board of Directors are very pleased with how Vertellus has developed since its launch three years ago. As the business matures it needs a full time, focused Managing Director to drive it forward. I’m delighted that Rhian has accepted the position, and alongside Nick Parker and our growing team I’m certain they can grow the business substantially. I will continue to support them and the business from my position as Chairman.”
Nick Parker promoted to Sales Director
Alongside Rhian’s appointment, Nick Parker has been promoted to Sales Director from his previous role as Business Development Director, recognising his contribution to Vertellus’ commercial growth and customer relationships since joining the business in 2024. “What sets Vertellus apart is the way we support customers day to day — helping them keep vehicles on the road and operations running smoothly,” commented Nick. “Stepping into the Sales Director role allows me to build even more closely with our customers and partners, ensuring our ‘Contract Hire with a Difference’ promise continues to deliver real, measurable results.”
Nick brings almost 20 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry, having held senior roles at businesses including Hexagon Leasing, NRG Riverside and Ryder. Since joining Vertellus in 2024, Nick has played a central role in driving sustainable growth, strengthening customer partnerships and helping deliver Vertellus’ “Contract Hire with a Difference” proposition.
In his new role as Sales Director, Nick will lead the sales function across the business, working closely with Rhian and the wider leadership team to ensure a joined-up, commercially sharp approach that maximises vehicle uptime, operational efficiency and long-term customer value.
Rhian added: “Nick has been an incredibly important partner over the past year. His ability to build trusted relationships and truly understand our customers’ operational challenges is a huge asset to Vertellus. I’m delighted to be continuing that partnership as we move into this next phase of growth.”
These appointments underline Vertellus’ focus on developing leadership from within and ensuring the business is well positioned to continue delivering innovative, customer-first contract hire solutions for commercial vehicle operators across the UK.
