Chairman of the ICFM, Roddy Graham commented: "We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Council and hope that he will follow in the footsteps of past Council members by making a major contribution to the progression of the Institute. It is always good to welcome 'new blood' on board and we are sure that, given Mark's past ICFM sub-committee experience, he will soon make a positive impact on our not-for-profit organisation."

Holyoake has worked with Network Rail on the commercial side of infrastructure maintenance since 2006. Given his previous fleet background, he was asked early last year to join the team working on the re-tender exercise for Network Rail road fleet, which has a fleet of around 8,000 vehicles.

Between 2003 and 2006, Holyoake managed a 450-car fleet for Minorplanet Systems, an electronics company; taking on responsibility for facilities and becoming head of purchasing.

For two years prior to that he ran his own fleet management consultancy company as well as buying and retailing ex-fleet cars.

Between 1998 and 2002, he was fleet manager of IVAX, a pharmaceutical company managing around 300 premium brand cars.

Holyoake joined the ICFM in 1993 and became a keen member of the Institute, helping out on the ICFM stand at fleet shows and joining the inaugural Steering Group in 1994.