BNP Paribas appointed Annie Pin to become chief executive of its vehicle-leasing subsidiary Arval from 1 April 2027. She will join Arval on 26 October 2026 as senior adviser to the chief executive. Alain van Groenendael will move from chief executive to chairman of Arval's board when Pin assumes the operational role.
The appointments establish a transition period spanning more than five months. Pin and van Groenendael will work with Arval and Athlon teams before the handover, according to BNP Paribas. Van Groenendael has led Arval since January 2019 and will remain with the business after relinquishing executive responsibility.
A MOBILITY EXECUTIVE MOVES ACROSS THE SECTOR
Pin is joining from Ayvens, where she served as group chief commercial officer and sat on the executive committee. She previously held senior posts at ALD Automotive in the Nordic region, including regional risk director and managing director for Norway. Her career began in Société Générale's General Inspection in 2004.
At Ayvens, Pin oversaw commercial, marketing, communications and first-line risk activities across more than 40 countries, BNP Paribas said. Arval's new chief executive will report to Thierry Laborde, the BNP Paribas chief operating officer responsible for Commercial, Personal Banking and Services. French trade publication Journal Auto reported that her remit will include finalising and implementing Arval's 2027–2030 strategic plan.
ARVAL PREPARES ITS POST-ATHLON STRATEGY
The succession follows Arval's acquisition of Athlon, which BNP Paribas said made the business a European co-leader in long-term vehicle leasing. Journal Auto reported that Arval now manages 2.3 million vehicles and employs almost 10,000 people across 28 countries. The enlarged platform gives the leadership transition significance beyond a routine internal appointment.
The first operational milestone will be Pin's arrival as senior adviser on 26 October. The formal leadership change is scheduled for 1 April 2027, when van Groenendael moves to the chair. Investors and clients will then be able to assess how the new management divides governance responsibilities and translates the 2027–2030 plan into the integration and growth of Arval and Athlon.