Plamondon’s career in the rental car industry spanned more than four decades.
Photo: Advantage Rent A Car / Bill Plamondon
Bill Plamondon, a rental car industry legend known for his many years of service and corporate leadership, died peacefully on Jan. 14, according to his obituary. He was 77 years old.
Plamondon’s career in the rental car industry spanned more than four decades. Most notably, he served as president of the American Car Rental Association from 2017 to 2020, succeeding Joe Knight, the former executive vice president of business development for Fox Rent-A-Car. Knight died on Nov. 26, 2023, at age 77.
Plamondon, who previously served as vice president of ACRA, was a board director for Advantage Rent-A-Car during his tenure as president. He stepped down in 2020 when the company dissolved. He delivered the keynote address at the International Car Rental Show that year.
According to multiple articles in Auto Rental News:
During his earlier career, Plamondon worked at Budget Rent a Car in various executive offices. He built Budget’s functions in field operations, training and development, and acquisition and refranchising. He managed more than 25 transactions and $350 million in assets.
As Budget transitioned from a franchising to an operating company, he successfully restructured the Florida operations. Plamondon worked at Budget Rent-A-Car from 1978 to 1997, including as president from June 1992 to February 1997 and as CEO from 1993 to February 1997. He was responsible for acquisitions integration, organizational development, and cost restructuring at the $2.5 billion company.
In 1998, Plamondon founded R.I. Heller & Co., LLC, a global professional services firm. In 2000, he was named to serve on the board of directors of ANC Rental Corporation, the parent company of Alamo Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. He achieved the title of president and CEO and managed the company’s successful restructuring before its sale in 2003. Plamondon served as president of Advantage Rent-A-Car from 2013 to 2016.
Plamondon was a founding member of the National Tourism Organization and served with the International Franchise Association. He was honored at the 2019 International Car Rental Show with the annual Impact Award for his dedication to serving the car rental industry.
Bill Plamondon (center) was presented the 2019 Impact Award by Scott Lieberman (R), chief administrative officer of Advantage and E-Z Rent a Car.
Photo: Shantell Guerra / Bobit Business Media
Current ACRA President Sharky Laguana, who succeeded Plamondon in 2020, recalled him as a careful listener while presiding over ACRA board meetings.
“By the time I got to know Bill he was already a legend, having served as president and/or CEO of several household name brands in the car rental industry,” Laguana said. “I was impressed by how remarkably concise he was, often weighing in only at the end of a conversation with just a couple words, but well-chosen ones that typically had both a clarifying and ratifying effect on our conversation. He had a no-nonsense air about him that I found intimidating at first, but my goodness did he warm up quickly. He was one of those people you found yourself counting your blessings that they were willing to spend time with you.”
Laguana said Plamondon was helpful and supportive in transitioning the role of president to him. “We were very fortunate to have such a talented leader and was of great help to ACRA at several critical junctures. We are all going to miss him. His memory is a blessing to us all.”
Auto Rental News associate publisher and longtime editor Chris Brown said Plamondon has many careers in car rental. “He was able to reinvent himself many times because he was good at so many things. He transitioned major companies through M&A. He made smaller companies better. He was a leader, and content to stay behind the scenes. He was as good in the boardroom as he was around a table with friends. Bill had the most distinctive face in car rental. That smile will stay with me forever.”
Vassilis Devletoglou, managing director of Wheels Car Rental System in Greece, added, “William was not only a friend, but also a mentor and a respected leader in the car rental industry, with decades of experience. Bill played a pivotal role in shaping my perspective and helping me understand market dynamics more clearly. He generously dedicated his time and energy, engaging in countless conversations while he was already well-established and I was just beginning.”
William Nelson Plamondon III was born on Sept,15, 1947, in Newark, New Jersey, and was the oldest of Bill and Mary Plamondon’s children. He was preceded in death by his wife, Erin Davis. He was a father to Will (Christine), Beth (Brett Hattel), and Grace (Michael Matranga) and a grandfather to Brigid, Michael, Millie, and Lyla. He is survived by his siblings Donna (Tom Scully), Jeff, and Mark. He was an uncle to 10 nieces and nephews. A funeral mass was held on Jan. 18 at St. Pius X in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.