Leadership
David McNicholas
Group Chief Executive Officer
David McNicholas joined AFI in 2006 as Group Finance Director after 11 years with Deloitte UK where he held the positions of Director and Corporate Finance Director.
His role at AFI encompasses new business development, corporate finance and business planning and strategy.
Paul Roberts
Group Chief Financial Officer
Paul Roberts joined AFI as CFO in 2023 following more than 25 years of experience in the furniture industry and as a Director in Deloitte’s Corporate Finance advisory practice in the UK. His career includes advising on several transformational transactions in the UK hire sector.
Paul’s role at AFI includes overarching responsibility for Finance, IT, HR and Property; leading acquisitions and other corporate finance matters; and directing the group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.
Nick Higgins
Chief Operating Officer
Nick Higgins has been an integral member of the AFI Senior Management Team for over 13 years. Backed up by over 30 years’ experience in the industry he has made a success of his roles at AFI. In 2019 Nick was appointed COO.
He now has overall responsibility for AFI’s UK rental operations as well as Group Services. He works closely with David McNicholas (Group Chief Executive Officer) and the current UK rental management teams.
David Shipman
Group Chairman
David Shipman has been Chairman of AFI since investing in the business in early 2002. He has led the group through several phases of significant growth, with annual revenues increasing from £2.2m in 2002 to over £94m today. He has overall responsibility for the strategic direction and development of the group.
David has over 30 years’ experience in the international powered access rental industry, including being Group Managing Director at Lavendon (1991 to 2001) and part of the management team that successfully floated the Lavendon business in 1996.
Nick Selley
Group Business Development Director
Nick Selley has over 20 years’ experience in the powered access industry. He joined AFI in 2003 following seven years with Lavendon Group where he worked in the UK and Germany.
During his time with AFI he has played a key role in the development of the company, being heavily involved in acquisitions and other areas of new business development. He is a past President of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF).
Careers at AFI
Would you like to work for one of the largest Powered Access companies in the UK with 26 locations in the world? In AFI, we have a range of opportunities, so if you have ambition and a drive to succeed we want to hear from you.
Customer Service
We are committed to putting our customers at the heart of everything we do and this has led to AFI becoming the only powered access company to hold the coveted Institute of Customer Service ServiceMark accreditation.
