• PAUL Sturgeon has been appointed operations director with Pro-Drive, the fleet risk management and driver training company. Sturgeon brings considerable experience in areas including operational risk, cost reduction, health and safety, quality management and training. He has held senior roles with such companies as Ryder, TNT, Penske Logistics and Leigh Environmental. His new role means he oversees the development of new initiatives, with particular focus on the new Ambassador Driver scheme.

  • ROLLS-ROYCE has announced the appointment of two non-executive directors to complete its board. Sir Ralph Robins was chairman of the company from October 2002 until January this year, and is a long-standing business partner of the BMW Group. Karl-Heinz Kalbfell is senior vice- president group marketing within the group and was director of Project Rolls-Royce, as it was known, from its start in 1998 until February 2002.

    LIZ Godwin has been appointed head of operations with ING Car Lease. She assumes responsibility for vehicle operational activities including insurance, accident management and daily rental. Godwin, a qualified accountant, was previously with Arval PHH as head of implementation and remarketing. Before that she worked in publishing for companies including the Financial Times and Reed Consumer Books.

  • INSUREASSIST, a division of the Helphire Group, has appointed Nick Litchfield as repair network manager. He previously work for AON as BT customer service/repair control manager. Before that Litchfield gained years of management experience including time with Poste Haste, where he was general manager.

  • TREVOR Warne has taken on the role of branch manager with Close Motor Finance, the finance provider to motor dealers. Running the company's Basingstoke branch, Warne brings 23 years' experience in the motor finance industry, having worked for Wagon and later, First National.

  • TERRY Waite has been promoted to the role of network manager for the north with National Fleet. He has been with the independent fast-fit company since 1996, and joins Paul Ashbourne, who is network manager for the south. Both Waite and Ashbourne take responsibility for expanding National's network of operators, and Waite also services motor dealerships in the Axle Group Dealer programme.