MAZDA UK sales director Paul Willis has left the company to take on a similar role at BMW.

Willis, who had headed up Mazda's sales operation for just under two years, replaces BMW's previous head of sales Jim O'Donnell, who recently relocated to a senior sales role with BMW South Africa. A Mazda spokesman said the appointment of a successor to Willis would take some time and managing director David Heslop would oversee the sales function in the interim.