Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

RentalMatics Hires Industry Veteran Bob Barton

Barton, former ACRA president and senior vice president of global franchise operations for Hertz, will serve as president of global mobility for Dublin, Ireland-based software firm.

July 30, 2019
RentalMatics Hires Industry Veteran Bob Barton

At the 2014 International Car Rental Show Bob Barton (right) receives an award commemorating his six-year term as president of the American Car Rental Association.

Photo by Steve Reed.

2 min to read


Mobility software firm RentalMatics announced today the appointment of Bob Barton as president of global mobility. Barton has over 30 years’ experience in the automotive and rental industries, having recently served as senior vice president of global franchise operations for The Hertz Corporation with responsibilities for 130 countries and 500 franchisees.

“We are delighted to welcome someone of Bob's caliber to the RentalMatics team,” said Colm Menton, CEO and cofounder of RentalMatics, in a statement. “His wealth of knowledge is of immense benefit as we rapidly scale this business. Technology is rewriting the rules for our industry and there's no-one better to help translate this opportunity to the global marketplace than Bob."

Ad Loading...

“In the 30-plus years I’ve been in this industry, I have seen many applications," Barton states. "The insights produced from the RentalMatics mobility platform not only create operating efficiencies and documented collection opportunities from renters, the subrogation results and defense of unnecessary litigation substantially improves any operator's experience and loss runs. Add to this knowing where every vehicle is 24/7, all without the use of the OBD port, makes this the cutting edge mobility solution on the market.”

Barton successfully led the creation of a long-term strategic partnership with South America’s

leading rental car company, Localiza. While president and COO at Franchise Services of North America Inc., he led the company’s international expansion, growing it by over 200 locations and managing an additional 600 associate members.

Barton was instrumental in taking the company public and leading the acquisition of Advantage Rent A Car, making the new entity the fourth largest car rental company in the U.S. Prior to this, Barton was at Dollar/Thrifty and Budget Group, Inc.

Barton is past president and member of the Board of Directors of the American Car Rental Association and the 2009 recipient of the Russell Bruno Award as Car Rental Executive of the Year. Barton holds several board positions at universities and tourism companies. He has represented the rental industry on the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus and testified before the Federal Trade Commission on competition in the car rental industry.

Ad Loading...

The RentalMatics telematics platform is presently available to rental fleets across Europe, North America and South America.

Based in Dublin, Ireland. RentalMatics was founded in 2015 by Colm Menton and Dr. Thomas Brady. Menton is a car rental industry expert and former CEO of both GoCar and Europcar Ireland.

Dr. Brady is an advanced technology specialist and software architect with a Ph.D. in Middleware and a Masters in High Performance Computing.

The RentalMatics platform is a patent-pending solution for the mobility industry. It currently supports rental fleets across UK, Europe, North America and South America.

More Rental Operations

Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027

Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.

Read More →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
U-Save Mauritius team

U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius

The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
Ad Loading...