ROVER UK has been given the responsibility of leading parent company BMW's drive to make the UK its most successful sales region in the world. The announcement was made by Gabriele Falco, the new director of sales and marketing for all BMW Group brands in the UK, at the press launch of the £130 million facelift of the Rover 200 and 400, renamed 25 and 45.

He also revealed that a key element in the world-beating strategy was the repositioning of the two cars in their 'correct' segments. Falco will lead a new sales team for the brand which also includes Kevin Gaskell, managing director of BMW (UK), Mike Wright, managing director of Land Rover UK, and John Edwards, director for Mini and MG. The final place in the team, managing director of Rover, will be taken by Paul Willis, who will replace Jim Macdonald when he leaves to take up the position as managing director of Wesleyan Financial Services Group on November 30. Willis is currently sales director for BMW (GB).

'With this team of proven winners I believe we will make the UK the most successful sales region in the world for BMW,' Falco said. 'And that starts now with the Rover brand. In September Rover had its best market share for many months following the positive news in June of our massive investment in the brand and the clear price and specification repositioning of the previous 200 and 400 models in their correct segments. We will continue this strategy with the Rover 25 and 45.