Hilton Wheeler
Vehicle Rental Professional
Mtunzini
Summary
Accomplished Vehicle Rental Professional with a proven track record in business management and ownership, particularly with the Avis Budget Group. Expertise in leading successful rebranding initiatives and adept at people management, effectively navigating businesses through critical challenges while achieving significant fleet growth and maintaining a Level 1 BEE rating. Exceptional negotiating skills and a strong commitment to maximizing fleet utilization and profitability drive consistent results. Strategic thinker dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering team collaboration in fast-paced environments.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Hambanathi Vehicle Rental
Halfway Group
11.2023 - 10.2025
- I was appointed to the role of Fleet Manager for Hambanathi Vehicle Rental with the objective of putting structures and systems in place in respect of fleet procurement and disposals, as well as identifying vehicles for sale at the correct age and mileage, in order to maximise the return on sale of the rental vehicles. The fleet size was approximately 1700 vehicles.
- I was also involved with Halfway Group Marketing rolling out the new logo, branding, signage and uniform as well as providing input for the rollout of the website for initially Hambanathi Vehicle Rental, and then Halfway Go in order to educate and create awareness around this new vehicle rental brand in the region. I was also responsible for the rollout of the Facebook content and campaigns.
Avis Van Rental Sub Licensee Director
Avis Budget Group
05.2002 - 11.2023
- Starting with 7 vehicles in May 2002 and with no knowledge of the rental process or the area, we purchased the Avis Van Rental license from the Avis Budget Group for northern KZN.
- Avis Van Rental was an unknown concept in the area and we had to start educating and exposing potential customers to this new division within Avis.
- After 21 years, we had 4 branches in operation in Richards Bay, Empangeni, Ulundi and Salt Rock, and over 260 vehicles at our peak, 30 Staff Members and a Level 1 BEE rating. In addition to the commercial vehicles, (vans, bakkies and 4x4's), we rented out sedans, hatches and SUV's under license to Avis from 2 of the 4 branches.
- Navigating the Covid-19 shutdown, civil unrest in July 2021 in KZN and elsewhere, and the floods in KZN in April 2022, followed by the curtailed supply chain disruptions at the OEM’s were just some of the challenges we overcame.
- While with Avis, I sat on the Van Rental Marketing Committee guiding the strategy and spend of the 1% Marketing/Advertising fee that was recouped monthly from each Van Rental franchisee, to advertise and grow awareness of the brand.
- Our journey with Avis ended on the 27th September 2023 and on the 6th November 2023, we sold the business to the Halfway Group, who re-branded the business to Hambanathi Vehicle Rental, and continued to trade from 3 of the branches with a Staff complement of 18 people.
Director
Amasondo Motors
10.2017 - 05.2022
- I was a shareholder and co-Director with Shaun Steynberg, in a vehicle retail business, selling cars and vans, primarily off rental fleets - low mileage vehicles with their warranty and service plans still intact, in order to give customers peace of mind.
- The concept was not to have a showroom full of vehicles, tying up capital, but rather a small warehouse with an online catalogue of vehicles we offered and could buy in, based on Customers specific needs. Shaun’s Linked In profile has a copy of our financials.
- Although we were only in business for 4 years, we managed to repay the loan to Dreamteam, generate meaningful profits and pay ourselves dividends. We successfully navigated the business through the Covid-19 shut downs and benefited from the demand for second hand vehicles caused by supply chain disruptions at the OEM’s, due to Covid-19.
- As we saw the market normalizing and new and second hand inventory stocks rising, we decided to close the business. We found positions for all the salesman as well as the support Staff at other companies.
Farm Manager
Chimwala Farm
01.1992 - 04.2002
- Returned to the family farms in Zimbabwe at the end of 1996, after working as an Account Manager, in Advertising firms in Johannesburg and London.
- We grew tobacco, maize(corn), grass seed, and had 4 hectares of roses under greenhouse cutting up to 30 000 stems daily which were exported to Holland and South Africa.
- We also ran beef cattle and both farms, which were just over 400 hectares in size were fully irrigable, with a Staff complement of 250 people between the 2 farms.
- In addition, we ran a small trucking company moving baled tobacco and cut flowers to the Tobacco Auction floors in Harare and to the airport for the cut flowers. The trucks returned with farming inputs for our Customers such as lime and fertilizer.
Account Manager
Ogilvy
01.1990 - 12.1996
- I applied for an internship run by the AAA School of Advertising after leaving university. Did my internship at Bernstein, Loxton, Golding and Klein In Killarney, Johannesburg and then joined Ogilvy, Rightford, Searle-Tripp and Makin (now Ogilvy) in Sandton.
- I worked with incredibly talented people on accounts such as Sun International, Dulux Paints, the South African Olympic Committee, Aquafresh toothpaste, and Grand-Pa Headache powders.
- I left for a brief sojourn at Bates, working on the Benson and Hedges Cigarettes account, before returning to Ogilvy’s.
- Early in 1996, I left to join M&C Saatchi in London for 9 months, where I worked mainly on the British Airways advertising account.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English And Economic History
University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KZN
12.1989
Skills
Vehicle Rental Professional
Keeping Fit; Golf; Reading
Keeping fit is a priority for me and consistency is key. This includes running, walking and mountain biking.
I enjoy playing golf, and reading, primarily non-fiction.
Timeline
Hambanathi Vehicle Rental
Halfway Group
11.2023 - 10.2025
Director
Amasondo Motors
10.2017 - 05.2022
Avis Van Rental Sub Licensee Director
Avis Budget Group
05.2002 - 11.2023
Farm Manager
Chimwala Farm
01.1992 - 04.2002
Account Manager
Ogilvy
01.1990 - 12.1996
Bachelor of Arts - English And Economic History
University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KZN