ATN: New recruit

Lisa Munro, sales manager for the Middle East and Africa at Hertz talks about her new role at the world’s biggest car rental company.

ATN: What is your background in the travel sector?
I have more than 11 years experience working in the automotive industry, joining Hertz Middle East and Africa from LeasePlan UK Ltd, latterly in the LeasePlan Emirates offices in Abu Dhabi.

ATN: What attracted you to the role as sales manager for Hertz Middle East?
I have been based in the UAE since 2009 and enjoy working in this region. My new role enables me to combine my skills in business development and relationship management and to further challenge myself with additional responsibility to increase revenue and work throughout the Middle East and Africa region in order to secure new partnerships for Hertz MEA.

ATN: What are your objectives and responsibilities?
My main objectives are to maintain existing relationships with our partners with a focus on the development of long-term strategic partnerships; whilst creating new opportunities for Hertz in the region.

I am responsible for creating and implementing business development plans in the Middle East and Africa region and cross-border, that optimise opportunities and I work alongside our regional franchises to increase the Hertz profile globally.

ATN: How do you plan to work with travel agents?
I will be working with travel agents to actively promote our products in conjunction with our partners, to offer the best deals for customers.

ATN: What do you think will be your biggest challenge in your new role?
I think the biggest challenge will be to adapt our approach across the region. While the UAE market is sophisticated and growing rapidly, a different approach will be required in our emerging markets.

However, working closely with our franchises located within these markets will be invaluable to us to ensure that we can gain a greater understanding of our local markets.

ATN: What are you most excited about in this job?
I am very excited about working for Hertz — the world’s largest general use car rental brand.

I’m keen to maximise opportunities throughout the region. This region is continuing to grow and I am confident that Hertz will be able to penetrate further into these rapidly-progressing markets in the near future.

This is a highly exciting prospect and I feel extremely privileged to be part of this new growth.

ATN: What do you love most about the job?
I love the challenge of identifying new opportunities for the business in this exciting region and maximising these to create rewards for our customers. I also find it thrilling to be working for the world’s largest car rental brand.

ATN: What are you most proud of in your career?
I am proud of how far I have progressed over 11 years. I am extremely driven and relish the responsibility that my new role at Hertz brings.