THE latest appointments in the fleet industry.

New Skoda fleet challenge for Burke

MARTIN Burke will be looking after fleets at Skoda UK after being appointed head of business sales. Burke brings more than 20 years’ experience gained in several roles including Volkswagen Financial Services and Audi. For the past three years, he has worked in the group services department, which supports five brands in the Volkswagen Group. He will be responsible for supporting fleets and developing the business sales department. Burke said: ‘I am excited about the challenge to deliver to the business market the same level of satisfaction as Skoda delivers to retail customers.’ He takes over from John Rooney, who has moved to a new role within the Volkswagen Group.

ROBIN Birkett has joined credit outsourcing company Close Credit Management as managing director. Birkett has more than 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, primarily with Lloyds TSB in motor, corporate and consumer finance. He has also worked as managing director of Black Horse Motorcycles, sales operations director of Lloyds UDT and executive director appointments with BNP Paribas.

HELPHIRE Group, which provides credit hire and repair services to drivers involved in non-fault accidents, has appointed Richard Edwards as managing director of IT. Edwards joins from Hanson Aggregates, a heavy building materials company where he was business systems director. Prior to this, he held several senior technical posts, including IT director of the menswear chain Moss Bros and head of IT at charter airline Air 2000. Edwards will be responsible for increasing the flexibility of Helphire’s IT system to improve customer service.

MONDIAL has appointed Martin Lyons as the new general manager for its Ireland division. Lyon brings more than 15 years’ experience gained in management and sales roles and will be responsible for growing business in Ireland. He joins from Citigroup Diners Club Europe, where he was responsible for re-establishing the brand in the Irish market.

PLANT and fleet management group Trace Systems has recruited John Kowalyk as national and marketing manager. Kowalyk brings more than 24 years’ experience including working on the team which created motor risk management insurance specialist, Compucar. In his new role, he will be responsible for boosting sales, identifying new markets and developing strategic partnerships.

DAVID Shaw has been appointed training and development manager at Network Automotive. Shaw will be responsible for course development and the national control of delivery. He joined Network Automotive 22 years ago and has held a variety of roles in the company, most recently specialising in training in the disabled sector.

CONTINENTAL Tyre Group has appointed Ian Morgan as sales director national accounts, replacing Michael Korpiun. Morgan joins the company from Goodyear Dunlop, where he has worked for the past 26 years in various senior management roles.