Northgate boss hands in his keys

6th Apr 2010 07:02

Steve Smith, chief executive of Northgate, the vehicle hire group, is to step down from the board.The move brings an end to a 23 year stint at the group for Smith, who agreed last year to stay on as boss of Northgate beyond his scheduled retirement on 1 August 2009.Paul Tallantine, deputy chief executive, will continue to run the day to day operations of the group, focusing on a 'fundamental reorganisation' of the UK business, including an overhaul of the IT systems. He and Bob Contreras, group finance director, will report directly to Bob Mackenzie, the chairman.The group reiterated its previous view, expressed in mid-March, that its full year results will be line with management's expectations.