LATEST appointments in the fleet industry.

Trio of new recruits aims to create a stronger Lex

  • LEX’S marketing department has three new faces. Daniel Grimes is now general manager of innovation, with a brief to include more creativity in the business to attract new customers. He has previously worked for Ernst and Young and RBS.

    Ian Martin has been made head of marketing communications, to strengthen the firm’s telemarketing operation. He was previously at Hewlett Packard and SPG Media Events. Wayne Marlow is the new product development manager, charged with creating new financial products and services.

    He has prior experience working for BAA plc, the AA and Friends Provident.

  • EMMANUEL Bouvier is the new marketing director at Renault UK. His remit sees him responsible for all advertising, marketing and product planning as well as pricing, vehicle distribution, market analysis, strategy and research.

    Bouvier began his Renault career in 1998 as area operations manager in Lille, before becoming manager of marketing planning at Renault UK in 2000. He then returned to France as director of the European importer division.

    His latest position replaces Olivier Genereux, who is now marketing director for Asia and Africa.

  • GRAHAM Hoare is the new powertrain executive director of Ford’s engineering team at the Dunton Technical Centre.

    Hoare takes over at the research and development centre from Malcolm Thomas, who has retired. The move sees Hoare move back to Britain from Dearborn, USA, where he was director of powertrain research and advanced engineering for four years.

    His job will entail broadening Ford’s engine range and bring together operations at Dunton and in Dagenham.

    Prior to his US assignment, Hoare led powertrain engineering at Land Rover. His background in powertrain engineering spans 17 years, with qualifications in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering business management.

    He is also due to be voted a Ford Motor Company board member.

  • SOUTHGATE’S Peugeot group has announced that Carolyn Wall is now group corporate sales manager, based at the Andover dealership.

    She brings a wealth of motoring experience from previous positions as UK franchise manager for Europcar and national account and dealer development manager for MG Rover Group.

  • DEALERSHIP group Pentagon has made Trevor Heathcote its group buying and remarketing manager. His role is to source 5,500 vehicles a year for all Pentagon branches via rental, contract hire, leasing, main dealer and auction routes.

    Surplus vehicles will be remarketed through the group’s remarketing department, as well as contract hire and rental companies.

    Heathcote’s career in the motor industry spans 35 years, from the shop floor to sales and general management.

  • WESTON-super-Mare Renault dealer S J Cook and Sons has appointed a local business specialist, Scott Williams.

    He is responsible for providing firms with demonstrations of Kangoo, Trafic and Master vans, as well as selling used vans. Williams has worked in the motor industry since the age of 17, starting his career supervising quality control inspections of imported vehicles arriving at Portbury Docks.

    He joined S J Cook and Sons as a car and van sales executive three years ago.

  • ALUN Cathcart, chairman of Avis Europe, is to become chairman of Emap, the parent company of Fleet News.

    He will take up his position on July 13, replacing the retiring Adam Broadbent. Cathcart becomes deputy chairman with immediate effect. He was appointed non-executive director of Emap in June last year, and is also chairman of the Rank Group and Palletways Group.