Ronald L. Nelson, chairman and CEO of Avis Budget Group (ABG) was featured in Business Travel News' annual list of the "Top 25 Most Influential Executives" for the second consecutive year.

Nelson was recognized for his leadership role in ABG’s 2011 acquisition of Avis Europe, which re-united global ownership of the Avis and Budget brands under a single corporate umbrella, and transformed ABG into the only company in the vehicle rental industry operating two global brands. Nelson has served as the chairman and CEO since 2006.

According to Business Travel News, executives named to the list for 2011 were chosen for having made decisions that "had farther-reaching influence in a turbulent time."

For ABG, the increase in the company's global reach provides a number of significant opportunities to compete for multinational commercial accounts and leisure renters, improve operational efficiencies through reduced costs and increased economies of scale, and deliver a more consistent rental experience around the world.

The acquisition also provides ABG with a major presence in fast-growing travel regions such as China and India, where Avis is already an established brand.

"Re-uniting Avis and Budget to make them truly global brands has been an objective of ours for many years," Nelson said. "In 2011, market conditions were finally right for us to take this important step forward to help drive sustained growth for our shareholders while improving our customers' experience around the world."