DERMOT Kelly has resigned as managing director of Audi UK after just five months at the helm to take up a post with rival Mercedes-Benz UK.

In the space of six months, Kelly has moved from director of Skoda to managing director of Audi, and has now been appointed passenger car director with Mercedes, replacing Walter Greaves who retires in July.

Kelly, with 23 years' experience in the motor industry, took over from former Audi managing director Len Hunt - now head of Audi's American enterprise - on January 1 of this year. An Audi spokesman said: 'Kelly was a valuable asset to the group.' A successor has not yet been named.