• MARK Bole has been appointed group vice- president of General Motors' subsidiary, GMAC Financial Services European Operations. Based in High Wycombe, Bole succeeds Rudi Doerr, who retires after 37 years with the company. Bole has 17 years' experience within GMAC as manager of its European Treasury Centre, director of Latin American operations and director, new markets and strategic initiatives. Most recently he was vice- president of Asia Pacific operations based in Australia.

  • NATIONAL Car Rental has appointed Kim Brown as marketing director and promoted Lorraine Farnon to the position of sales director. These two senior appointments report to vice-president, sales and marketing, Neil McCrossan. Brown has more than 20 years' experience in the automotive and finance sectors with organisations such as Capital Bank and the AA. Farnon has been with National for 13 years and is promoted to her new role from that of regional director, south west.

  • NIGEL Wonnacott takes on the role of BMW's media relations manager from March 1. He will work alongside fellow media relations manager Duncan Forrester. Wonnacott joins BMW after six years with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Most recently he represented the society as frontline spokesman for issues including end-of-life vehicle legislation and block exemption.

  • GM Daewoo has appointed two new directors to head up marketing and sales operations at its Luton headquarters. Rob Smettem joins the company as director of marketing and public affairs. He was previously with Jaguar Cars as head of global marketing communications. Before that he spent time with Ford in marketing, fleet and retail sales and finance. Daewoo's new director of sales is David Stubbs. After graduating, he worked for Ford and then spent six years with Rover. Stubbs later spent three years with BMW in Munich and joins Daewoo from AT Kearney consultancy. The above photograph shows, from left: Rob Smettam and David Stubbs.

  • VEHICLE supply company, Fleet UK, has made four new appointments to its sales team. Mary Ayers joins from Hendy Lennox Vehicle Leasing and brings more than 15 years' experience in the contract hire business. From the same company Rebecca Bird replaces Jacqui Greene as business administrator, who moves to the new business development division. Terry Traynor joins Fleet UK's commercial vehicle department after six years with Volkswagen franchises. As part of the company's expansion, Bethany-Joy Rowden joins as a graduate trainee with the business development unit.

  • NIGEL Holmes has been appointed by Practical Car and Van Rental as its regional operations manager for the northern region. He brings experience as a national sales manager with several major rental chains. His new region stretches from Nottingham to the Scottish border.