Addison

In 1975, with just a single car, John Griffin founded a private hire and courier company in London. He named it Addison Lee, not after a person, but for a tactical reason: a name starting with 'A' would appear early in the phone book. The business focused on providing a reliable service, primarily to corporate clients, and grew steadily. By the early 1990s, the company was a significant player in London's transport scene. The first major turning point came in 2013 when the private equity firm, The Carlyle Group, acquired Addison Lee for a reported £300 million. John's son, Liam Griffin, took the helm as CEO. The goal of this acquisition was to fuel expansion both within the UK and internationally, leveraging Carlyle's capital and experience in the transportation sector. Under this new ownership, John Griffin eventually stepped down as chairman in 2014. Years later, the company changed hands again. In 2020, amidst a challenging market, The Carlyle Group sold Addison Lee to a consortium led by Liam Griffin and Cheyne Capital, which saw Liam return as CEO. This deal provided new investment to stabilize and grow the business. Most recently, in 2024, the Singapore-based transport group ComfortDelGro acquired Addison Lee, integrating the London-based service into its global mobility network. This latest acquisition aims to enhance the company's scale and continue its focus on a premium, reliable service.