The latest appointments in the fleet industry.

NATIONAL Car Rental has appointed Ian Hunt as director of sales development for the EMEA sales and marketing group and John Kear as area director for its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) franchising group. Hunt joins National after three years as a consultant advising blue chip companies. He has 12 years' industry experience in sales development. Kear will develop National's international franchise network and joins from Harley Davidson, where he was European dealer development manager. He will support National's international franchise partners, helping to grow rental operations.

MERCEDES-BENZ south-west has appointed Mike Draycott as corporate sales manager. Draycott will be responsible for branches from north Somerset to Cornwall and joins Mercedes-Benz from the Co-op motor group where he was fleet sales manager. Draycott will be based at the Exeter depot and will be responsible for targeting the client base from major contract hire companies to local groups, offering advice and providing funding options. He will also be responsible for Mercedes' light commercial vehicles.

GUILDFORD-based Barnes LDV has appointed Bob Templeman as van sales specialist. Templeman has more than 13 years' industry experience and joins from the Nissan dealer network, latterly with the Dan Perkins Group as commercial vehicles specialist. In his new role, Templeman will be responsible for new and used van sales, generating new business development and building customer relationships.

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has announced Keith Vincent as new affinity manager. Vincent has 13 years' experience gained in the personal leasing industry and joined Hitachi Capital six years ago to develop its personal leasing portfolio. The affinity manager role is newly created to widen services available to individual drivers in Hitachi Capital's corporate customer base.

ROBERT Chidiac has joined telematics provider Thales Telematics as vice-president of customer services. Chidiac, formerly an international business consultant, joins from Thales Navigation, where he was vice-president and managing director. He will be responsible for the company's inter-national customer support operations.

CHRISTOPHER Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, has been named as next president of Ben, the motor and allied trades benevolent fund. He is to replace Vincent Oddie.

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