Read On: Latest Hard Realities, Top Pressures For Electric Fleets
Motorlease Establishes C-Suite, Announces AVP Roles, and Launches Marketing Department
Motorlease strategically prepared for the launch of its new leadership programs for around 10 years.

Motorlease has just formed its first-ever C-suite, promoted three new assistant vice presidents, and launched a dedicated marketing department.
Image: Janice Gucciaridi / Automotive Fleet
Motorlease is implementing a series of internal leadership promotions and organizational updates to uphold its long-term growth strategy.
The move reflects the culmination of a decade-long vision to position the company for continued success and scalability. This transformation includes creating three new C-level roles and three assistant vice president positions. Each is filled by long-tenured Motorlease team members and forms a marketing department to support future growth.
A Milestone Rooted in Growth
Over the past 5 years, Motorlease has achieved a compound annual growth rate exceeding 10% while maintaining strong employee retention and long-term client relationships spanning over 40 years.
These new leadership roles are a direct result of intentional succession planning.
New C-Suite Leadership
All three C-suite leaders bring extensive institutional knowledge and proven leadership.
Jeffrey Perkins, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Justin Mesick, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), oversees operations, services,
accounting, and administration.Joseph Pelehach, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), oversees business development,
customer experience, and marketing.
Together, the new C-suite brings 86 years of combined Motorlease experience. They will focus on
strategic decisions, operational alignment, and continued impact on company performance.
New AVP Appointments
Supporting the C-suite will be three Assistant Vice Presidents:
Ryan Fitzgerald, AVP of Business Development
Jim Maule, AVP of Operations
Gregg Cogswell, AVP of Customer Experience
They have 23 years of combined experience
New Marketing Department Appointment
As part of its evolution, Motorlease has also established its first-ever marketing department to support
strategic brand growth and market visibility.
Janice Gucciardi is the marketing manager and will lead this initiative. She also oversees the development of
integrated marketing strategies.
By the Numbers
100% of new leadership roles - filled internally.
86 years combined experience in new C-suite.
23 years combined experience among AVPs.
Operating in all 50 states.
10+% compounded growth in the last five years.
Celebrating 80 years in 2026.
Honoring a Legacy of Innovation
Motorlease also announces the retirement of Bradford Lutz after 25 years with the company. He was the Vice President of Technology.
In addition to modernizing Motorlease’s technology infrastructure, Lutz also managed the customer experience team, where he elevated the overall experience for clients and drivers. He will continue to serve in a consultative advisory capacity.
More Operations

Fleet Has a Talent Pipeline Problem. What Comes Next? | AF News Recap
Where will fleet’s next generation of leaders come from? This week, we’re looking at the industry’s talent pipeline, what certification can add to a fleet career, how to build an award-worthy track record, and the return of Automotive Fleet’s Personal Use Survey.
Read More →
Smith System Launches Driver Risk Management Program
Fleets have more driver data than ever, but identifying risky behavior doesn't necessarily correct it. Smith System's new Driver Risk Management program combines monitoring, training, and follow-up coaching to help fleets connect risk signals with driver intervention.
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
From AI Prompts to AI-Generated Safety Songs | AF News Recap
Can better prompts make AI more useful for fleet managers? This week, we’re breaking down smarter fleet analysis, an AI-assisted experiment that turned safety training into music, and what happened to fuel prices in August.
Read More →
How to Write Better AI Prompts for Fleet Analysis
Include these six elements in your fleet prompts to generate more relevant analysis and accurate answers.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Eric Kilgore
This edition of the Fleet Meets series features one of the industry's best leaders driving multi-market and national operations.
Read More →
Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain
Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.
Read More →
What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You
Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights
Does data alone drive results in operations?
Read More →