Michael Pohl joins Fleet Logistics Consulting team
Fleet Manager Michael Pohl has joined as an external consultant the Fleet Logistics Consulting team and has been interviewed about the value he brings to other fleet managers looking for guidance, tips, and tricks that have made his career in the industry so successful.
Michael Pohl, recently appointed senior consultant in the Fleet Logistics Consulting division, talks to Samuel Kellner-Steinmetz, the company's CSO.
SKS: “Michael, we are thrilled you accepted the offer to join the Fleet Logistics consulting team. What are the personal reasons behind your decision?”
MP: “Sharing my professional knowledge has always been my passion. I love diving into details and helping people find solutions. Throughout my career, this has been both rewarding and effective - and something I truly enjoy! Initially, I had planned to stay in the fleet industry, taking on a role where I could coach colleagues facing critical challenges—challenges I’ve likely encountered before, including in my last role at Microsoft, but from a fresh perspective.”
SKS: “At Fleet Logistics, we have quite a history of Fleet Consulting, motivated by our independent market position and the operational experience of managing 120.000 blue-chip company vehicles. What would you additionally bring to clients if they were to engage with you for advice?”
MP: “I believe my experience from 'both sides of the table' adds significant value, as it allows me to understand and categorize mutual requirements effectively. My last role at Microsoft was incredibly diverse, shaped by a wide range of challenges across different business areas. This has given me a strong sense of the demands that today’s corporate mobility landscape presents..”
SKS: “Could you give a few examples for clients to think about”
MP: “Yes, absolutely, with pleasure:
As mentioned earlier, I have experience on both the supplier and client side, giving me insight into where connections are - or could be - strong or weak. I firmly believe that success is never achieved alone, but with the right partners, you can exceed organizational expectations by addressing weaker areas and having the courage to acknowledge and improve upon them.
Secondly, over the past few years, I have procured a high five-digit number of vehicles - a significant volume that delivered a great benefit to the employees and has generated millions in bonuses for the company. This experience has given me deep expertise in working with OEMs, where I am recognized as a reliable and strategic partner. Thanks to my transparent approach, I have built strong relationships that enable the joint development of effective and sustainable fleet strategies.
The third point is critical, as I’ve been responsible for the global reporting of the entire company car program, which I built from the ground up. I have a passion for data and, in a way, an ability to identify 'blind spots,' even in large datasets. The first time you tackle this, it’s definitely 'a hard nut to crack,' but once it's sorted, you’re sitting on a data goldmine that offers invaluable insights. At that point, you can make informed decisions based on data, not assumptions.
As a final example, I would like to talk about fleet management in different countries. Over the past 15+ years, I have been responsible for the company car program in almost every European country - of course, not all simultaneously, but some at different times. Additionally, I was responsible for the programs in LATAM for a certain period. Fleets and markets were at completely different stages of development, making the introduction and implementation of standardized processes as well as harmonized SLA and KPI measures all the more challenging. Process optimization while maintaining strict cost control - a demanding task that has led to significant savings and improved employee experience. All of this takes time and is rarely a quick success. But if done thoughtfully, the implementation is highly sustainable.
SKS: “Well, thank you, Michael. That sounds very familiar to what our clients need, and your reassuring experience will make a difference. Welcome on board!”