Car Rental Is In My Blood
The CEO Magazine - ANZ|July 2019

Starting As A Car Washer On Miami Beach, Europcar’s Ron Santiago Has Propelled His Way To The Top By Doing Things Extraordinarily Well.

Ashton Kobler
Car Rental Is In My Blood
Though Ron Santiago has been in the car rental industry for 31 years and currently holds the role of Managing Director for Europcar Australia and New Zealand, he started by washing cars on Miami Beach decades ago. “Car rental is in my blood,” he says. “I love the business. Also, I like seeing people evolve through the business. I think I’m a good example of what’s possible. To go from the car wash to the boardroom is a pretty extraordinary story, and I enjoy inspiring others.”

Ron, who won Managing Director of the Year at The CEO Magazine’s 2018 Executive of the Year Awards, went from Operations Manager for Europcar in the UK to Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand in 2008. “Having been in the industry for so long, I’ve done pretty much everything,” he notes.

Ron has enjoyed living in Australia and became a citizen in January 2018. “I’m proud to be an Aussie,” he says. “It’s not often you get to choose your citizenship. You’re just born into it and nobody thinks about it. But when you choose it and you get sworn in, it’s quite a special moment.

“Australians are lovely people,” he continues. “The country is diverse and welcomes foreigners with open arms. Our business is multicultural, like Australia. I’ve now lived and worked in seven countries, and Australia and New Zealand are both easy places to work in. I think people here have a good attitude.”

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