ROVER Group corporate sales director Trevor Houghton-Berry (pictured) is leaving to take up a new role within BMW. Houghton-Berry joined Rover from Mazda and replaced Steve Harris, who was promoted to regional director African sales for the BMW Group at the end of last year.

He faced a baptism of fire at Rover amid the crisis facing the company as it battled for survival. Ultimately BMW decided to sell Rover to the Phoenix Consortium. Throughout Houghton-Berry's career at Rover he was an employee of BMW (GB). This week he wrote to fleet customers explaining his imminent departure from the Rover job.

He told FNN: 'I am leaving the job because I am an employee of BMW (GB) and BMW no longer owns Rover, but my new role has yet to be determined.' A successor to Houghton-Berry is expected to be announced shortly.