Flexcar Adds Chief Technology Officer/VP Strategy to Executive Team

WASHINGTON--Flexcar today announced it has hired Luke Schneider as its Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Strategy, a new position at the company. Schneider has more than 15 years of technology consulting, systems development and general operations experience at both large multinational corporations and start-ups. His primary goal will be to further extend Flexcar’s innovative car-sharing technology platform to increase member convenience and operational efficiency as well as lead the management of next-generation car-sharing services.

”All too often people mistakenly believe the development of technology is more important than the management of technology,” said Flexcar CEO Mark Norman. “We believe there is tremendous potential for further innovation in the car-sharing industry, and Luke’s experience is well suited to help Flexcar lead the way.”

Prior to joining Flexcar, Schneider served as senior vice president at Verticalnet , a leading provider of supply management solutions that enable companies to identify and realize sustained value across the supply management lifecycle. His primary focus was on leveraging web services to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for Verticalnet’s customers. He is known in the industry as a pioneer in developing the “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model and has been named a “Pro to Know” by a leading technology magazine.

Schneider’s experience in managing technology to improve business processes, increase efficiency and reduce cost will be keys to helping Flexcar as it continues to expand car-sharing across the United States. His experience in building relationships with technology providers will be instrumental in extending the Flexcar car-sharing platform to offer new services and experiences to its members.

Flexcar’s award-winning service provides its members with on-demand access to a diverse fleet of low emission vehicles, including hybrids, sports cars, sedans, crossovers and minivans, conveniently located in metropolitan areas across the country. Members reserve a vehicle online or via touchtone phone, use a Smartcard to open the doors, take their trip, then return the car at the end of the reservation. A single, simple hourly fee covers all gas, insurance, mileage, maintenance, parking and 24-7 emergency service. National studies have shown that each shared car placed in service removes up to 14 privately owned vehicles.

“Joining Flexcar is a great opportunity to combine my technology experience with my passion for helping companies thrive in complex environments,” said Schneider. “I look forward to taking an already great technology platform to the next level.”

Schneider has more than 15 years experience in product and technology management, including more than a decade at the executive level. He has worked for Ford Motor Company in a variety of technology positions as well as for a management consulting firm in product management, operations and business development. Schneider holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.