Mr Shahbo will take over from Mike Nigro, who was recently promoted to head the company’s operations throughout Europe.

He joined Enterprise in 1991 after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and started his career as a management trainee in Southern California. Mr Shahbo then relocated to the UK in 1994 to help open and develop the then fledgling car rental company and in 1996, he was appointed vice president for Scotland. A few years later his responsibility was expanded to include Northern Ireland. In 2008, he was appointed to his current role as vice president for South East England. 

His latest appointment follows last year’s acquisitions of commercial vehicle rental provider Burnt Tree and City Car Club as well as the return of the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands in Europe to Enterprise Holdings in December last year. The company said Mr Shahbo will play a key role in defining how all three Enterprise brands are delivered. 

Mike Nigro, Enterprise Holdings’ senior vice president of European operations, said: “Khaled has overseen a period of exceptional growth as head of the London and South East region without ever losing sight of the fact that Enterprise was founded on values of customer service. Khaled will ensure Enterprise continues to deliver an exceptional service to all our customers in the UK and Ireland. 

“This is an incredibly important time for the UK and Ireland business. A very solid rental business has allowed us to make strategic acquisitions that open up new mobility markets for Enterprise. Khaled will play a key role in integrating those businesses while ensuring that we deliver innovation to our rental customer base. He will also be integral to how we position and operate the three Enterprise brands in the UK and Ireland,” added Mike Nigro.