FORMER Toyota fleet operations director Simon Elliott will take over as the new director of Chrysler Jeep in the UK from January 1, 2000. Elliott will succeed Richard Mackay, who will relinquish his role as managing director of Chrysler Jeep Imports UK after eight years to remain with Inchcape, which is preparing to transfer ownership of the business to the newly-formed DaimlerChrysler UK at the end of the year.

Elliott will be responsible for the Chrysler Jeep brands in the UK at the new Milton-Keynes-based company which has been formed following the global merger of Daimler Benz and Chrysler. He will also be a main board member of the company reporting to the new managing director of DaimlerChrysler UK Joe Eberhardt.

Elliott started his motor industry career with the Volkswagen Group before joining Toyota Lexus GB as a sales manager. He worked there as a regional general manager and director of fleet operations before taking up his most recent post as sales director of Toyota Lexus Belgium. He said: 'I am joining one of the UK's most buoyant and thriving brands at a truly exciting time. The Chrysler Jeep business has enjoyed enormous success over the past six years and is set to continue this growth next year with some fantastic new vehicles.'

Elliott begins a period of familiarisation this month, working alongside Mackay in the company's Dover offices. He will then manage the transfer of the operation to the Milton Keynes head office of DaimlerChrysler in January 2000.