THE latest appointments in the fleet industry.

New chief for ATS customer service unit

  • NIGEL Robson has joined ATS Euromaster as head of a new customer service unit within the group. As part of the role, Robson will create a new system to manage customer relationships as well as taking on a proactive role in customer ownership and resolution. He brings several years’ experience gained in both operational and customer service roles in the fleet industry including 11 years at Arval in various management roles. His most recent role was head of networks where he headed procurement and supplier management for the 300,000 fleet and team of 47 staff.

  • HITACHI Capital Vehicle Solutions has appointed Kevin Davis as head of telesales responsible for developing business prospects in the personal vehicle leasing and small business sectors. He will also be responsible for developing the existing telesales team and bringing in new business as well as handling requests for upgrading of contracts on existing accounts. Davis joins Hitachi Capital following eight years with the NTL group, where he was responsible for a 165-strong team.

  • MITSUBISHI Motors has a new fleet sales manager after recruiting Martin Woodward. He joined Mitsubishi in 2002 as product manager and in his new role will be responsible for generating sales with new and existing customers in both the traditional and specialised fleet markets.

  • FLEET software group cfc solutions has appointed two new members for its marketing team. Elie Richards joins as marketing executive. She brings several years’ experience gained in sales and marketing roles in the oil and gas industry. Matt Baxter has been appointed as e-media designer. Baxter joins from the e-business intranet and marketing department at IBM.

  • MG Rover Group has announced that it is to strengthen its sales and marketing organisation with a number of executives joining the team under Rod Ramsay, now managing director, worldwide sales and marketing. The new appointments include: managing director UK sales and marketing, UK corporate sales director, UK marketing manager and European sales and marketing director.

    For the UK Kevin Brown joins as corporate sales director. He rejoins the company after working for consultants KPMG and as head of strategy for the RAC. He had previously worked for Rover Group in the fleet organisation.

    Robert Hazelwood joins as managing director UK sales and marketing and brings 22 years of motor industry experience to this key role. His previous roles included: managing director Maranello Concessionaires, head of Inchcape Retail, managing director Mazda France, and southern regional manager Nissan Motor GB.

    Completing the UK team is Guy Jones, who has taken on the role of UK marketing manager for the MG and Rover brands. He joins from Kia where he was marketing director, following a successful career with Land Rover and Bentley.

    MG Rover has announced it is to expand its European dealer network with Paul Stroud taking on the new position of European sales and marketing director, moving from the role of commercial director UK. Stroud was previously head of brand strategy and communications and regional director Europe south for MG Rover. Rod Ramsay said: ‘I am delighted we have recruited talented and proven executives into our front line team which only increases my confidence that we can raise sales worldwide in 2005.’

    As part of a company streamlining programme, sales and marketing has been established as a stand-alone organisation. In addition to the existing sales and marketing functions, the division will now have responsibility for aftersales and Phoenix dealerships.

  • VEHICLE services group Universal Vehicle Services has appointed Rob Hatfield as business development director. Hatfield brings more than 25 years’ experience to the group and will be responsible for developing Universal’s offering in the fleet and dealership markets. He joins from Fiat Auto UK where he spent 16 years in a variety of roles.