Europcar CEO – Peter Gowers (Age – 53) & Sebastian Birkel (Current)

Note: Peter Gowers is a Former CEO. Peter Gowers served as Chairman of the Management Board and Group CEO of Europcar Mobility Group from June 2022 to May 2023. He was succeeded by Alain Favey, and Sebastian Birkel became the current Group CEO effective May 1, 2025. Gowers is now Group Chief Executive of Busy Bees Global.

Europcar Mobility Group, the Paris-based international car rental and mobility services company, appointed Peter Gowers as Chairman of the Management Board and Group CEO in June 2022. An international travel and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience, Europcar CEO Peter Gowers was brought in following the company’s acquisition by Green Mobility Holding (led by Volkswagen Group). He led the company to record financial results before handing over the CEO role to Alain Favey in May 2023 as planned, marking the completion of the post-acquisition leadership transition.

Read on to discover Europcar CEO Peter Gowers’ net worth, salary, career history at IHG, Travelodge, and Safestore, his education at Oxford, his wife & family, and what he is doing now in 2026.
Europcar CEO Peter Gowers
Peter Gowers, Former Chairman & Group CEO of Europcar Mobility Group

Peter Gowers – Quick Facts

Peter Gowers — At a Glance
Full Name Peter D. Gowers
Position (Former) Chairman of the Management Board & Group CEO
Company Europcar Mobility Group
Current Role (2026) Group Chief Executive, Busy Bees Global
Age 53 years (born September 28, 1972)
Education BA Law (First Class), Keble College, University of Oxford
Net Worth (Est.) $20–25 Million
Europcar CEO Tenure June 2022 – May 2023
Previous Roles CEO, Travelodge; CEO, Safestore; CEO Asia-Pacific, IHG
Email (Former Europcar) [email protected]
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/petergowers

Europcar CEO Timeline

Europcar Mobility Group has undergone several leadership changes since its acquisition by Green Mobility Holding in 2022. Below is the full CEO succession timeline:

CEO Tenure Notes
Caroline Parot Until June 2022 Led company through restructuring and acquisition
Peter Gowers June 2022 – May 2023 Post-acquisition CEO; delivered record financial results
Alain Favey June 2023 – Early 2025 Implemented EXCEED strategic plan
Olivier Baldassari Interim, Early 2025 Bridged transition as interim CEO
Sebastian Birkel May 1, 2025 – Present Current CEO; former CEO of SIXT North America

Europcar Competitors

Europcar Mobility Group operates in the highly competitive car rental and mobility services industry across Europe and globally. The key competitors of Europcar include:

  • Avis Budget Group – Global car rental conglomerate (Avis, Budget, Zipcar)
  • Enterprise Holdings – World’s largest car rental company (Enterprise, National, Alamo)
  • Hertz Global Holdings – Major international rental brand (Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty)
  • Sixt SE – German-based premium rental and mobility provider
  • Localiza – Largest car rental company in Latin America

Peter Gowers Net Worth 2026 – Europcar CEO Salary

As of 2026, Peter Gowers’ net worth is estimated at approximately $20–25 million USD. This figure reflects his extensive career leading multiple major corporations including InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Safestore Holdings, Travelodge Hotels, and Europcar Mobility Group. Specific salary details from his Europcar contract were not publicly disclosed, as the company was delisted and taken private by Green Mobility Holding during his tenure.

Estimated Compensation Sources

Source Estimated Value
Travelodge CEO Compensation (2013–2020) $5–8M cumulative
Europcar CEO Compensation (2022–2023) $2–4M estimated
Safestore & IHG Earnings (prior roles) $5–8M cumulative
Board Memberships & Advisory Roles $500K–1M
ESTIMATED TOTAL NET WORTH $20–25 Million
Key Insight: Peter Gowers’ net worth reflects a career spanning leadership roles at four major companies across three industries (hospitality, self-storage, and car rental). His compensation at Europcar was not publicly disclosed due to the company’s private ownership structure under Green Mobility Holding.

Europcar Net Worth 2026 – Is Europcar Profitable?

Europcar Mobility Group is owned by Green Mobility Holding, a consortium led by Volkswagen Group (approximately 66% stake), along with Attestor and Pon Holdings. The acquisition was valued at approximately €2.9 billion, and the company was delisted from Euronext Paris in 2022.

Europcar Financial Summary (FY2024)

Metric Value YoY Change
Revenue €3.41 Billion ▲ 10%
Net Income -€256M ▼ Loss widened
Ownership Green Mobility Holding (VW-led)
Acquisition Valuation €2.9 Billion
Fleet Size ~350,000 vehicles
Countries of Operation 140+
Financial Note: While revenue grew 10% to €3.41 billion in FY2024, Europcar reported a net loss of €256 million, widened from €139 million the prior year. Rising fleet costs, inflationary pressures, and a deteriorating second-hand vehicle market contributed to the loss despite strong volume-driven revenue growth.

Europcar CEO Email – Peter Gowers Contact

Below are the contact details and social media profiles for former Europcar CEO Peter Gowers. Note that his Europcar email is no longer active since his departure in May 2023.

Contact Information
Email (Former Europcar) [email protected] (no longer active)
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/petergowers
Current Organization Busy Bees Global (Group CEO since July 2025)
Board Membership British Tourism Authority (VisitBritain)
Europcar HQ (Corporate) Europcar Mobility Group, Paris, France

Career & Education – Company, University, & College

Peter Gowers is an international travel and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience driving brands, customer experience, technology, and business transformation across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Below is his complete career timeline:

Peter Gowers Career Timeline

Period Role Company
Mid-1990s Analyst Arthur D. Little
1999–2005 Strategic Planning & Strategy Officer Bass plc / IHG
2005–2007 Chief Marketing Officer IHG plc
2007–2010 CEO, Asia-Pacific IHG plc
2011–2013 Chief Executive Safestore Holdings plc
2013–2020 Chief Executive Travelodge Hotels Ltd
June 2022–May 2023 Chairman & Group CEO Europcar Mobility Group
July 2025–Present Group Chief Executive Busy Bees Global

Peter Gowers began his career as an analyst at the management consulting firm Arthur D. Little. In 1999, he joined Bass plc (later rebranded as Six Continents and then InterContinental Hotels Group), where he spent over a decade rising through the ranks. At IHG, he served successively as Head of Strategy, Group Chief Marketing Officer, and CEO for Asia-Pacific, overseeing the company’s operations across one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality markets.

After leaving IHG during the Great Recession, Gowers became Chief Executive of Safestore Holdings, an Anglo-French self-storage and services business, where he spent two years. In November 2013, he was appointed CEO of Travelodge, the UK’s second-largest budget hotel chain. During his seven-year tenure at Travelodge, he led a significant brand transformation and expansion before departing at the end of 2020.

Europcar Mobility Group headquarters
Europcar Mobility Group headquarters — the Paris-based car rental giant where Peter Gowers served as Group CEO in 2022–2023

In June 2022, Gowers was appointed Chairman of the Management Board and Group CEO of Europcar Mobility Group, following its acquisition by the Volkswagen-led Green Mobility Holding consortium. He led the company to record financial results and supported the completion of the delisting process before handing over to Alain Favey in May 2023 as planned.

In May 2025, Gowers was appointed Group Chief Executive of Busy Bees Global, the world’s largest childcare and early education provider with over 30,000 employees. He officially took the helm in July 2025, succeeding founder Simon Irons after 25 years of service.

Education

University Degree / Program Years
Keble College, University of Oxford BA Law (First Class Honours) 1991–1995

Peter Gowers studied law at Keble College, University of Oxford, from 1991 to 1995, earning a First Class BA. During his time at Oxford, he was elected President of the Oxford Union Society in the spring of 1994 — a prestigious debating society whose past presidents include several UK prime ministers and world leaders.

Peter Gowers Wiki – Age, Wife, Family, & More

Peter Gowers was born on September 28, 1972, making him 53 years old as of March 2026. He is a British national based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England.

Gowers married Claire Sykes in September 1998 in Leeds. The couple met while studying at the University of Oxford, where Claire also read law. Together they have two children: a son (born September 2002) and a daughter (born March 2004).

Notable Achievements & Affiliations

  • President of the Oxford Union – Elected Spring 1994, one of the world’s most prestigious debating societies
  • British Tourism Authority Board Member – Appointed January 2025 (VisitBritain), reappointed subsequently
  • UK Soft Power Council Member – Appointed January 2025
  • Travelodge Transformation – Led the UK’s second-largest budget hotel chain through a major brand revitalization during his 7-year tenure
  • IHG Asia-Pacific Leadership – Oversaw the hotel giant’s fastest-growing region during a period of rapid expansion
  • Europcar Record Results – Delivered record financial performance during his tenure as Group CEO in 2022
Europcar Mobility Group CEO
Europcar Mobility Group — one of Europe’s leading car rental and mobility services companies, operating in over 140 countries

About Europcar Mobility Group

Europcar Mobility Group is a major European mobility services company headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1949, the company is one of the world’s largest car rental operators, serving customers in over 140 countries through a network of owned stations and franchise partnerships.

Detail Information
Founded 1949
Headquarters Paris, France
Owner Green Mobility Holding (Volkswagen Group ~66%, Attestor, Pon Holdings)
Current CEO Sebastian Birkel (since May 1, 2025)
Revenue (FY2024) €3.41 Billion
Fleet Size ~350,000 vehicles
Countries 140+
Key Brands Europcar, Goldcar, Ubeeqo

Since its acquisition by the Volkswagen-led Green Mobility Holding consortium in 2022, Europcar has been undergoing a strategic transformation to become a major mobility platform player in Europe. The company operates under several brands including Europcar (premium car rental), Goldcar (value car rental), and Ubeeqo (car sharing).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is the current CEO of Europcar?

The current CEO of Europcar Mobility Group is Sebastian Birkel, who became Group Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2025. Birkel, age 42 at the time of appointment, previously served as CEO of SIXT’s North American business and later as CEO of profection Group. Peter Gowers, the original subject of this article, served as Group CEO from June 2022 to May 2023.

What is Peter Gowers’ net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Peter Gowers’ net worth is estimated at approximately $20–25 million USD. This reflects his career leading several major companies including InterContinental Hotels Group, Safestore Holdings, Travelodge Hotels, and Europcar Mobility Group. He currently serves as Group CEO of Busy Bees Global.

What is Peter Gowers doing now after Europcar?

After leaving Europcar in May 2023, Peter Gowers was appointed Group Chief Executive of Busy Bees Global in May 2025, the world’s largest childcare and early education provider. He also serves as a Board Member of the British Tourism Authority (VisitBritain) and a member of the UK Soft Power Council.

What is Europcar CEO Peter Gowers’ email address?

Peter Gowers’ Europcar email was [email protected], though it is no longer active following his departure in May 2023. He can be contacted via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/petergowers.

Is Europcar a profitable company?

As of FY2024, Europcar Mobility Group generated €3.41 billion in revenue (up 10% year-over-year), but reported a net loss of €256 million. The company has faced profitability challenges due to rising fleet costs, inflation, and a deteriorating second-hand vehicle market. It is owned by Green Mobility Holding, a consortium led by Volkswagen Group.

Article last updated:March 2026March 3, 2026

Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including corporate press releases, official company websites, and reputable news outlets. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.