Avis Budget Group Chairman & CEO Ronald L. Nelson

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ronald L. Nelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR ), was honored with the 2013 Warren Bennis Award for Excellence in Leadership at the Global Institute for Leadership Development (GILD) annual institute in Palm Desert, Calif. The award is bestowed each year to one or more exemplary leaders to honor the courage, endurance, capability and success of the recipient, and to highlight the recipient as an inspiration and a role model for current and aspiring leaders around the world.

"We view leadership as both a science and an art, and Ron Nelson has demonstrated that he is among the best of the best in exemplifying the outstanding leadership qualities this award honors," said Phil Harkins, chief executive officer and founder of Linkage, a leadership development consultancy, and co-chair of GILD. "Like our previous winners, Mr. Nelson is well regarded throughout the business community for his character, and a track record of achievement and results. He is a man who lives his responsibilities and when challenged, has demonstrated outstanding leadership competency."

Previous winners of the Warren Bennis Award for Excellence in Leadership include Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel; Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor of New York City; Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union; Howard Schultz, chief executive officer, Starbucks; and Daniel Vasella, chairman, Novartis AG. The award is named for Warren G. Bennis, co-chair of GILD. Mr. Bennis is an American scholar, organizational consultant and author, widely regarded as a pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership studies. Bennis is University Professor and Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and Founding Chairman of The Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California.

"I am deeply humbled to be honored with this award, particularly in light of past winners," said Mr. Nelson. In his acceptance speech he said: "I tend to think of leadership as a very individual trait when you get right down to it. For me, it is about a collection of experiences and relationships that helped shape how I have dealt with people, with adversity, and also with successes over the course of my life and career."

About Avis Budget Group

Avis Budget Group, Inc. is a leading global provider of vehicle rental services, both through its Avis and Budget brands, which have more than 10,000 rental locations in approximately 175 countries around the world, and through its Zipcar brand, which is the world's leading car sharing network, with more than 810,000 members. Avis Budget Group operates most of its car rental offices in North America, Europe and Australia directly, and operates primarily through licensees in other parts of the world. Avis Budget Group has approximately 30,000 employees and is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. More information is available at www.avisbudgetgroup.com .

Alice Pereira (973) 496-6113