MG Rover sales and marketing director John Parkinson has been appointed managing director of the company's parts business.

A new identity has also been created for the business to reflect its independence, with a name change from MG Rover Parts to XPART.

Parkinson will report to Kevin Howe, group chief executive, while John Sanders has been promoted to sales and marketing director. Fraser Winton has been appointed managing director of MG Rover's Powertrain division.

He joins from Delphi Automotive and will head up a business with 1,300 employees and turnover of more than £250 million.