Devon green-tech firm Lightfoot has appointed a new Chairman to take its fuel-saving driver platform to global markets.
The Exeter-based business behind the in-cab, driver fleet coaching technology and rewards platform, has announced that Bob Mann, its Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses leader, Bob Mann will take over the role.
Mr Mann is currently Chairman of Openbravo, one.network, Social Value Portal, ethiXbase, and a board member of Zift.
He is widely recognised as a pioneer in the SaaS space. He previously ran the European operations of several US software companies, including Siebel Systems, and rapidly turned Relayware - now part of Zift - into a leading global SaaS solutions provider, delivering services to improve channel performance and accelerate revenue growth.
He said: “Fleets may not be able to switch to EVs tomorrow, but they can deliver significant fuel and emissions reductions through the adoption of Lightfoot’s technology.
"In a world where geopolitics is making the price of fuel a real headache for organisations, and where businesses are having to adopt measures to reduce their impact on the environment, Lightfoot provides a solution that both reduces fuel use, and delivers against the decarbonisation agenda today."
Mr Mann's appointment will help Lightfoot with ambitious growth plans, widens its offer to fleets in the UK and beyond and cements its reputation as the disruptor in the fleet management sector.
His track record in optimising operational efficiencies within businesses is also seen as a major asset.
Rupert Lyon Taylor, Chief Executive, said: “Bob has invaluable experience in helping tech businesses grow at speed and scale, both domestically and internationally. Bob’s expertise in the SaaS sector is unrivalled and will prove a huge asset as we move to develop the business in this direction.
“Currently, our in-cab coaching device is perfectly suited for the retro-fit ICE and EVs market and the decarbonisation of fleets agenda, but we are always looking forwards which includes integrated SaaS solutions of the future. This will enable us to deliver SaaS driver coaching and rewards in next-generation vehicles, future-proofing our technology.”
Already working with big names including Virgin Media, Tesco, Asda and Dixons Carphone and customers in Germany, Lightfoot plans to roll out its real-time, in-cab driver coaching and rewards platform to markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa before expanding into wider international territories.
Bob Mann is the third high-profile hire for Lightfoot so far this year. In March, Neil Warman joined the business as CFO, followed by Paul Hollick, Chairman of The Association of Fleet Professionals, who joined as Managing Director.
The senior appointments follow Volpi Capital’s investment in Lightfoot in 2021. This has enabled the business to advance R&D and new product development.
How does Lightfoot work?
Lightfoot’s in-vehicle dashboard-mounted device works together with the Lightfoot reward app. This shows where drivers rank in leagues and rewards those hitting the target Elite Driver level by unlocking access to a host of prize draws. This includes The Drivers’ Lottery, where drivers can win up to £100 each week and have a one-in-ten chance of winning cash prizes. As a result, Lightfoot’s fleet management solutions have transformed the concept of fleet driver engagement, which has been shown to directly improve driver safety and performance.
Today, Lightfoot reports that it regularly achieves driver engagement levels above 60%, which compares favourably with conventional telematics which struggles to achieve engagement levels higher than 5%.
