ST. LOUIS -- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Chairman and CEO Andrew Taylor announced today that President and COO Donald Ross has been promoted to vice chairman.

In his expanded role, Ross will assist Taylor with such issues as corporate governance, strategic planning and management development. Ross will also remain president.

A native of St. Louis, Ross joined the company in 1964 as one of the first employees of its rental car operation.

In addition, Taylor announced that Pamela Nicholson has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. She will report to Ross.

Before her new promotion, Nicholson was executive vice president of North American Operations. She joined Enterprise in 1981 as a management trainee in St. Louis. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri -Columbia.

Matthew G. Darrah now assumes the position of senior vice president of North American operations, and reports to Nicholson. He was serving as corporate vice president.

Darrah was responsible for a number of the company's operating groups in the Northeastern portion of the U.S. and parts of Canada. He joined Enterprise as a management trainee following graduation from Mount Union College in Ohio in 1984.

Other senior-level promotions at Enterprise include Jim Burrell, senior vice president for Europe; Rick Allen, senior vice president of group operations for Northeast; Tony Moise, senior vice president of group operations for Canada/Michigan; John Murray, senior vice president of group operations for North Central; Randal Narike, senior vice president of group operations for South Central; Dave Nestor, senior vice president of group operations for Southeast; Jim Runnels, senior vice president of rental operations; Tim Walsh, senior vice president of car sales; and Dan Kirchhoeffer, senior vice president of vehicle acquisition.

Enterprise also announced the promotion of Greg Stubblefield to the newly created position of president for California and Hawaii. Stubblefield, who began his career in Southern California in 1982 as a management trainee, was serving as president and general manager of the company's Southern California operations.

The size of the California market, along with the state's complex regulatory and legislative environment, led to the decision to create the new position, Enterprise said.

Stubblefield will also continue to serve in his Southern California role at least through the end of the company's current fiscal year on July 31.

"At Enterprise, we have been fortunate to enjoy tremendous success and growth over our 47 years in operation," Taylor said. "These promotions in our management team come after careful consideration of the talents and skill sets we will need to direct and grow what is already a multi-national, industry-leading business with more than 50,000 employees.

"I'm particularly pleased that Don Ross, who was one of this company's first 100 employees, will be assisting me in his new role as vice chairman and president."