Director of Customer and Strategic Relationships

Overview

At Zenith, we've been helping organisations move further, smarter and more sustainably for over 30 years. As the UK's leading independent leasing and fleet management provider, we're proud of our people, our award‑winning service and our ambition to be the UK's most customer‑focused fleet partner.

We partner with some of the UK's most recognisable brands, delivering bespoke contract hire, salary sacrifice and fleet solutions that create real commercial value. With a portfolio of blue‑chip customers and household names already trusting Zenith, we're continuing to invest in our future and accelerate our growth.

Following a recent comprehensive Group refinancing, significant investment across our Corporate business including the appointment of Andy Wolff as our Managing Director – Corporate and a strengthened platform for long‑term growth, we're investing in our future, and creating a new opportunity for a Director of Strategic & Customer Relationships to lead our Corporate Customer Relationship function.

This is a high‑profile leadership opportunity for an experienced commercial and customer leader who thrives on building long‑term partnerships, developing high‑performing teams and delivering sustainable business growth. You'll shape the strategy for customer retention, fleet growth and account development across some of Zenith's most strategically important corporate customers.

Reporting to the Corporate Managing Director, you'll lead a team of approximately 15 Customer Relationship professionals, setting the strategic direction for the function and ensuring a consistent, high‑quality approach to customer relationship management across the Corporate division.

You'll be accountable for developing and executing a customer strategy that drives retention, revenue growth and customer advocacy, while ensuring our customers continue to view Zenith as a trusted long‑term partner.

This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring someone who can successfully balance customer outcomes, commercial performance and colleague development. You'll work closely with Executive Committee members, senior stakeholders and customers at C‑suite level to strengthen existing relationships and identify new growth opportunities.

• Define and deliver the strategy for the Customer Relationship function, supporting retention, fleet growth and commercial performance.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Customer Relationship Directors and customer professionals, creating a high‑performing and inclusive culture.
• Take ownership of customer retention, growth and profitability across the Corporate customer portfolio.
• Build and maintain executive‑level relationships with key customers and strategic partners.
• Act as Executive Sponsor for strategically important customer relationships and lead senior stakeholder engagement activity.
• Own and evolve Zenith's Executive Committee Sponsorship Programme and strategic customer defence roadmap.
• Ensure robust contract governance, account planning and customer review processes are in place.
• Represent the voice of the customer within senior leadership forums and influence future business investment decisions.
• Collaborate closely with sales, operations, finance and executive teams to deliver exceptional customer outcomes.
• Lead change initiatives and transformation programmes that improve customer experience and business performance.
• Develop leadership capability, succession plans and future talent pipelines across the function.
• Ensure delivery of budget commitments, profitability targets and strategic objectives.

We're looking for a strategic leader with a proven ability to build strong customer partnerships, inspire teams and deliver commercial results.

• Significant leadership experience within the automotive, leasing, fleet management or mobility sector.
• Experience leading Customer Relationship, Account Management or Customer Service functions.
• Proven success developing and executing customer or functional strategies that support business growth.
• Strong experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
• Experience managing…