Global Footprint; Canadian Legacy
Holman | Global Footprint; Canadian Legacy (Credit : Jack Kazmierski)
With offices and staff throughout our great nation, Holman continues to cater to the needs of Canadian fleet professionals.
After more than a century of growth and innovation, Holman continues to drive the future of fleet management. What started as a single Ford dealership, founded by Steward C. Holman in 1924, has blossomed into a global organization and an automotive service leader with many specialties, including fleet.
Through 100 years of growth and success, Holman remains family owned. As such, Holman can make strategic plans for the future with a focus on what’s best for the business and their customers, without having to wonder how those decisions will be received by shareholders.
“Among the many benefits of being a family-owned, privately-held company is that we’re not tied to market performance or the 13-week analyst’s cycle,” explains Brent Scowen, Managing Director, Canada at Holman. “I’ve spent most of my career working in publicly-traded companies and it’s a different experience. You’re literally making decisions at quarter-end, anticipating how the markets, the analysts and the share prices are all going to react.”
As Holman CEO Chris Conroy says, “We’re planning for the next quarter century; not the next quarter.”
Without those pressures, Scowen adds, “when we talk about the business, our aspirations and our investments, they’re all seen with a much longer-term outlook and always with our customers in mind. We’re not forced to pivot from our best plans, our best thinking or our best strategies in order to respond to market expectations. We have benefited from this, and so have our clients.”
Canadian presence
Here in Canada, Holman has been a fleet industry mainstay for nearly four decades. The organization has helped countless fleet professionals navigate economic ups and downs, endure multiple recessions, overcome supply chain struggles, and even weather a global pandemic.
Today, as Canadian fleet professionals continue to juggle budget demands, vehicle shortages, and tariff woes, Holman’s Canadian team is at the ready to help their customers navigate all these challenges.
“When you consider today’s marketplace with all the complexities, along with all the geopolitical and economic challenges, we continue to be uniquely positioned here in Canada to service our clients and care for their drivers,” says Scowen.
While Holman has an extensive global footprint, the company has long-standing Canadian roots and proudly calls Canada among its corporate homes, providing services and solutions tailored to the precise needs of its in-country customers.
“We have a Canadian national headquarters in Mississauga; two additional offices in Laval and Calgary; we have a Canadian executive team that’s responsible for running our Canadian operation; we have close to 350 in-country staff from coast-to-coast with expertise in all the disciplines; we have three remarketing centres; and an assembly plant in Mississauga,” Scowen says.
Today, Holman’s Canadian team manages more than a quarter million vehicles for nearly 700 clients. “We’re especially proud of the fact that our entire portfolio of leased assets, from passenger vehicles to work trucks and beyond, is financed by Canadian financial institutions,” Scowen adds.
Eager to give back to the local community, Holman is also a proud supporter of several non-profit organizations throughout the region. “We think it’s important to do so,” Scowen says, “so whether it’s with local associations or the United Way of Canada, we’re committed to making a positive impact and giving back to communities across the country.”
Relationships matter
Holman’s global headquarters is located in New Jersey, and according to Kathryn Foster, Director, North American Strategic Services at Holman that’s a strength that the Canadian team continues to leverage.
“Our Canadian partners [employees] and customers benefit from the technologies, innovations, and investments made across our entire organization,” she says. “However, when it comes to our Canadian customers, we know that relationships matter, and that’s why our Canadian presence is so vital.”
Foster says that Holman recognizes and understands the unique challenges many Canadian fleet operators are facing today. “We’re hearing from our clients that many of their industries are experiencing huge growth, while others are more cautious and more prudent with their planning,” she says. “Our ability to help them manage all these pressures is built on a blend of fleet expertise and unique knowledge of regional nuances. We have people on the ground locally, across Canada, and that really helps.”
National presence, local support
Romy Bria, Vice President, Client Services at Holman agrees wholeheartedly. “In addition to the physical offices we have in key cities across Canada,” he says, “we have employees in every major market, including Ottawa, Edmonton, and Vancouver. That’s one of the biggest benefits we offer our clients—they can count on local support backed by with a deep understanding of the region and unique market dynamics.”
Bria highlights that Holman’s regional representatives help the broader team stay attuned to local regulations, weather conditions, and the operational challenges each part of the country has to face.
“Understandingwhat Highway 2 looks like during a winter drive from Calgary to Edmonton, is important,” he adds. “Whether it’s providing bilingual support in Quebec, navigating emissions regulations in B.C., or simply knowing what’s happening with the local hockey team, these details help us deliver better service and build stronger relationships with our customers.”
With team members across the country, Bria explains, Holman offers more than just geographic reach; it means quicker response times, reduced downtime, and a real human connection in every time zone.
“We can tailor the strategy based on the local knowledge of the fleet and the field,” he adds. “With strong regional sales, client relations, and operational teams, we ensure our customers have convenient access to local individuals and reliable support.”
Working with vendors
While Holman’s customers certainly benefit from their national presence, so do Holman’s suppliers. Moreover, Holman’s team can work with suppliers across Canada in order to provide fleet customers with the solutions they need.
“For our fleet customers, the ability to leverage the expertise of our entire fleet team—including our Canadian upfitting expertise—allows us to provide valuable insight and support,” Bria explains. “It allows us to apply a centralized strategy with regional execution, ensures our service is consistent, and that we’re not sacrificing flexibility to meet local needs.”
Changing times, changing needs
While Holman may be over 100 years old, they continue to evolve. “As an organization, we recognize that what may have worked before, will not be the exact solution for tomorrow,” explains Foster. “Our clients’ needs are changing, the industry is changing, and we continue to adjust in order to meet these expectations and continue to offer the level of service and support that our customers have come to expect from us.”
Despite these external changes, the company continues to focus on delivering what has come to be known as, “The Holman Experience.” Foster explains: “This is our north star that guides our level of service. We want to continue to be easy to work with, and to work for. We want to continue to deliver on the expertise our customers engage us for, and we want to continue to foster strong relationships built on trust and confidence. That’s the purpose behind everything that we do.”
Holman is leveraging advanced technologies, including telematics solutions, data analytics tools, and EV integration platforms to help Canadian fleet professionals operate more efficiently, make smarter decisions, and adapt to evolving industry demands.
“Ultimately, we are positioning our clients to leverage their fleets as a revenue-generating tool,” Foster concludes. “In the end, that’s what effective fleet management is all about.”
From their roots as a single dealership, to becoming a global fleet management leader, Holman’s century of success is built on strategic, long-term planning, local expertise, and enduring customer relationships. In Canada, their national infrastructure and regional insight ensure clients get the right support, no matter the challenge.
