Bill Gibson, one of this year’s three Hall of Fame inductees, held an outstanding nearly 50-year career in fleet before passing in August 2021 at 68.
Photo: General Motors/Automotive Fleet
Three new Fleet Hall of Fame inductees were announced recently at the 2024 Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA) annual conference in San Antonio.
In the third installment of the 2024 Hall of Fame series, Automotive Fleet is highlighting posthumous inductee Bill “Gibby” Gibson, who passed away in 2021.
Hall of Fame inductees have over 10 years of fleet experience and are recognized for the “indelible mark each has made within the commercial fleet management profession,” according to AFLA.
This year’s three honorees join the 97 others inducted into the Hall of Fame since it was established in 2008. The program is sponsored exclusively by AFLA and presented by Automotive Fleet.
Gibson’s wife, Joyce Gibson, asked Rob Minton, associate vice president of connected car business development at Geotab, to accept the award on her behalf.
“I am honored to do so,” Minton said in his speech at the AFLA conference.
Rob Minton, associate vice president of connected car business development at Geotab, accepted the award and addressed the crowd during the AFLA Conference on the Gibson Family‘s behalf.
Photo: Laurie Rush Photography
A Fleet Icon, Mentor, and Beloved Friend
Gibson is remembered as not only a renowned automotive executive but an avid traveler, golfer, mentor, and friend. His nominator described him as a beloved icon in the fleet industry by customers, fleet management companies, and his coworkers.
However, Gibson is most known for his fleet career at General Motors, where he spent 38 years. He joined GM’s manufacturing operations in 1973 and held various positions within the automaker before joining GM’s Fleet and Commercial Operations in 1991.
In 1994, Gibson was promoted to director of U.S. rental sales, and in 2001 was promoted to director of Fleet and Commercial Sales. In 2004, global sales responsibilities were added to Gibson’s role.
“I first met Bill in 2005 when I joined General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations and Bill was in charge of fleet customer sales. It seemed like our lives were destined to stay connected,” Minton said.
On April 30, 2011, Gibson retired from GM. At the time, Gibson said, “Sometimes it’s difficult to view everything in the larger context (simply because the day-to-day work is all-consuming), but it is gratifying to realize that I was able to make a contribution (however small) to GM’s Fleet and Commercial Operations efforts.”
“Upon his GM retirement, Bill and Joyce left the Detroit area and moved to Orlando, Florida. In October of that year, GM transferred me and my family to Orlando, where we were reunited with the Gibsons. We met for dinner or had backyard BBQs frequently,” Minton said.
After his time at GM, Gibson worked with other companies such as SCT Performance LLC (previously SCT Fleet Solutions), VNG.co, and Mobility Ventures LLC in various VP roles surrounding fleet sales.
Gibson presenting at the 2005 GM Fleet Product Preview held in Palm Springs in May 2004.
Living the Dream
Continuing in the fleet industry for another 10 years, Gibson maintained a name for himself as a mentor, advocate, and protector for other fleet professionals. His nominator noted, “If someone was looking for a job, he never hesitated to use his vast network of contacts to try and help out. Ask him how he was doing, and his answer was always, ‘Living the dream!'”
“Bill’s heart was as big as he was. In his 30 years in the fleet industry, Bill mentored so many people, including me. And I can’t tell you how many people he helped find new jobs and opportunities, both inside and outside of GM,” said Minton.
Minton applauded Gibson’s passion for customer service, resolving customer issues quickly, and building long-term relationships. “I remember one of Gibby’s favorite sayings, ‘Customer problems are not like fine wine. They don’t get better with age.'”
Outside of customer service, Gibson was constantly uplifting the fleet community. According to Brent Dewar, former executive vice president at General Motors, whether speaking up for colleagues or giving up playtime with Tiger Woods to another fleet professional he found more deserving, he always thought of and rewarded others first.
Gibson was not only an automotive executive, but an avid traveler, golfer, mentor, friend, and more.
“I spent more time with Bill Gibson out of the country than I did inside the USA,” Joe LaRosa, retired global fleet director in the pharmaceutical fleet space, said. “As part of the GM International Sounding Board, I had the pleasure of traveling to Canada, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil with Bill. He had such a grasp of the international markets, and I picked up many suggestions and ideas from him along the way.”
LaRosa recalls a trip with Gibson and Brian McVeigh, former general manager of fleet/commercial sales at GM, when McVeigh kept referring to Bill as “Bull”. “I figured it was some type of inside joke between the two,” LaRosa said.
Later, when they were meeting in São Paulo, Brazil, LaRosa figured out that Bill acted as a kind of protector. “He made sure the board members were getting their questions answered and that we traveled about the city safely,” LaRosa explained. “He was bigger than life, in my opinion.”
A Naval Start
In his earlier days, Gibson attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from 1971-1972, where he studied electrical engineering. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in finance and accounting and completed graduate work in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
“I knew that Bill went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis. I believe he played football probably as a linebacker,” LaRosa said of his late friend. “When I retired a few years ago, I contacted Bill to let him know I moved about 20 miles west of Annapolis. He wrote back and told me where to go and not to go. Again, my protector!”
LaRosa explained that he recently served as a juror in Annapolis, which brought back memories of Gibson. “The jury parking lot was next to the Naval Academy stadium, and call me crazy, but when I walked through the city of Annapolis to get to the courthouse, I was thinking of Bill the whole time,” LaRosa said. “[I wasn’t] worried as he was probably looking down and watching over me.”
Honoring a Lasting Legacy
Gibson was known for constantly uplifting the fleet community; he always thought of and rewarded others first.
Reaching almost 50 years in his career, Gibson impacted customers, colleagues, and friends through his drive and infectious positive attitude. The effects of which the industry still feels today.
“Bill died way too soon in 2021, but this award is a testament to his extraordinary impact and the indelible mark he has left on our hearts and the fleet profession,” Minton concluded. “On behalf of Joyce, thank you for recognizing Bill’s contributions with his Fleet Hall of Fame induction and for allowing us to celebrate his life and work. Let’s carry forward his passion for putting others first in all that we do.”
“Bill’s induction posthumously into the AF Hall of Fame is very special and well deserved. Given his Bull nickname, you better make sure there are a few bolts that hold his plaque on the wall,” LaRosa quipped.
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