Online equipment auctioneer, IronPlanet, has appointed Jeff Holmes as its vice president for government solutions.
The company says that Holmes’ previous experience combines both military service and a corporate career spent driving efficiency and growth through business and government partnerships.
“I am pleased to have Jeff join IronPlanet with his deep industry knowledge and experience in both the public and private sectors,” said Gregory J Owens, IronPlanet’s chairman and CEO.
“He understands and can expertly navigate complex government relationships. Jeff is disciplined and driven, and knows how to be strategic while managing fast-growing businesses like our GovPlanet marketplace.
“He is joining IronPlanet at a time when we are seeing great momentum across our businesses. I look forward to working with Jeff as he carries that momentum to GovPlanet and our public sector customers,” he added.
As part of his new role, Holmes will take responsibility for business development of the auctioneer’s GovPlanet marketplace. This will include all development, management, and growth of IronPlanet’s federal, municipal, and military relationships.
“IronPlanet’s business is remarkable in that it delivers real value unlike traditional supply and disposition channels currently used by the public sector,” commented the new vice president.
“IronPlanet’s innovative, technology-driven approach represents a new opportunity for government agencies to recoup a major part of their capital investments, better manage their fleets, and more efficiently handle the disposition of heavy equipment,” he noted.
Holmes retired from the US Army in 1992 after 20 years of active service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has since worked extensively in international logistics operations for Mars Incorporated, with assignments across multiple continents.
IronPlanet launched its GovPlanet marketplace in the fourth quarter of 2014. In its first two months of online auctions, the website helped the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to generate more than $3.5m in government proceeds from disposed surplus rolling stock. According to IronPlanet, this figure was three times that achieved for the US taxpayer under the previous contract.
GovPlanet expects to conduct similar auctions in the European Union (EU) later this year.
