Jeff Smith Announces Retirement From PHH Arval, Erika Craven Named Successor
Jeff Smith, Senior Vice President of Sales and International Development, PHH Arval, has announced his retirement after thirty years with the company. He will continue to serve as a senior consultant supporting the PHH Arval Global Alliance.
Smith began his career with PHH in 1982 as Regional Sales Manager in the truck and equipment division. He was promoted to Vice President of Sales in 1990. In 2000, he was named Senior Vice President of Sales and a member of PHH Arval’s Senior Leadership Team. Following the company’s 2004 acquisition of FirstFleet Corporation, a truck asset management company, Smith assumed the role of Senior Vice President, North American Truck Sales. Most recently, he was responsible for large fleet sales and for leading PHH Arval’s international business through the PHH Arval Global Alliance.
"Jeff’s dedication, commitment, and relationship management skills have helped us build the client portfolio we have today. We are lucky to have been the beneficiary of Jeff’s talents for so many years, and I thank him for his leadership and innumerable contributions," said George Kilroy, President and CEO, PHH Arval.
In announcing his retirement, Smith said, "PHH has been and continues to be an exciting place to work. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to represent the best capabilities in the industry to some of the best clients any company could ever have. The entire workforce at PHH has been a team with whom any sales leader would be lucky to have worked."
PHH Arval announced on August 1 that Erika Craven has been named Senior Vice President, Cornerstone Sales, effective immediately. Craven replaces Jeff Smith who retired last month from PHH Arval after thirty years of service with the company.
Craven was most recently Senior Vice President, New Business Solutions for the Financial Services Group at RR Donnelley, a global provider of integrated communications serving the print industry. She spent eighteen years with Bowne & Co., which was acquired by RR Donnelley in 2010. During that time, she served as President, Investment Management Services, responsible for the $155 million global business services division and, earlier, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing, responsible for marketing and communications for the enterprise. Craven began her career with Bowne & Co. as a Customer Services Representative and then later became a Sales Representative.
"Erika brings a strong track record of driving growth and building client relationships," said George Kilroy, President and Chief Executive Officer, PHH Arval. "Her sales management experience and customer-focused approach are an ideal complement to our existing management team, and she will play an important role in strategically growing the fleet business."
Craven, who will report to Kilroy, is charged with building clients in Cornerstone Sales, which focuses on large U.S. and multi-national fleets.
"I’m excited to be joining such a reputable, customer-focused organization," said Craven. "I look forward to working with the PHH team to grow the business and maintain its leadership position in the fleet industry."
Craven has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with honors, from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has attended professional development programs at Columbia Business School, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and Harvard Business School.