Avis Budget Group Inc. named Michael K. Tucker as the company's executive vice president and general counsel. Tucker will be responsible for the legal affairs of the company, including management of its franchising and other contracts, litigation, government relations and information security.

"With his extensive and varied accomplishments as an attorney, Michael is a terrific addition to Avis Budget Group," said Ronald L. Nelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Avis Budget Group. "He has worked in senior legal positions for world-class organizations and brings a significant breadth of experience to our organization. His leadership will be invaluable to our legal department and to Avis Budget Group."

Prior to joining Avis Budget Group, Tucker was in private practice serving as managing partner at the law firm of Tucker Associates, and of counsel to the law firm of Lowe & Savage, where he represented private and public entities, handling corporate, securities, finance and commercial transaction matters.

His long tenure as a corporate attorney includes service as division general counsel with Tyco International Ltd. Tucker also served in senior legal positions with General Electric Company, including division senior counsel of GE Transportation and senior vice president and general counsel of GE Capital International Services. Before working as a corporate attorney, he was a member of the law firms of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Bingham Dana LLP and Csaplar & Bok.

Tucker received his Juris Doctorate degree from Boston University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University.