LATEST appointments in the fleet industry.

Baxendale boost to buying power

  • MERCEDES-Benz North Yorkshire has appointed Phil Baxendale to the new position of group used car manager. Baxendale, who has 22 years’ experience in the motor trade, was previously group buyer north for Ford Retail. His expertise in used car sales will be used to help the group optimise its purchasing and sales procedures.

  • CITROEN parts dealer SEL-Imperial has appointed a parts specialist to join its incoming sales team. Gary Cole has more than five years’ Citroen parts experience, having previously worked for several major motor groups, completing all the latest training courses. His role will be to provide sales and technical assistance to repairers on the full range of Citroen parts.

  • INSURANCE and breakdown service Europ Assistance has made Rob Upton sales and marketing director. Upton is an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and has had more than 20 years’ experience, including time as national sales manager for Mondial Assistance. He specialises in knowledge of insurance, banking and e-commerce industries.

  • ALL-in-One Leasing, the company set up by used car supermarket chain Carcraft Group, has appointed several field-based regional sales managers. County Durham-based Neil O’Connor and Ely-based Craig Staddon, who were both previously area sales managers for Arval, represent All-in-One throughout the north east and East Anglia and East Midlands respectively.

    Wolverhampton-based Ralph Bailey, who has 10 years’ management experience in financing the Black Country company car market, will handle the West Midlands. Bailey previously worked for Volkswagen Financial Services, Nissan Finance and Jaguar Financial Services.

    Southampton-based Carolyn Randall, who was previously involved in corporate fleet sales in the region, will operate in the Thames Valley and South. Saratha Govindasamy, formerly a regional sales manager for the North-West, has been moved to head up All-in-One’s direct telesales and marketing team. Her former post has now been taken by Brian Smith, who was previously responsible for the north east.

  • MARK McKenna has become head of operations at Seat UK. He takes over from Iain Carmichael, who has moved to Audi to head up its fleet sales department after eight years at Seat. McKenna was formerly head of marketing for five years. In his new position, he will be responsible for the management and development of the 117-strong Seat UK dealer network, as well as supply and logistics.

  • AUTOMOTIVE research and development consultancy APD has appointed two new senior members of staff.

    Andy Allwood arrives as qualitative research specialist and Tony Peace has joined as associate finance consultancy and outplacement specialist. Allwood is a qualitative researcher with particular expertise in new product development, brands and communications development.

    His initial career was in advertising and marketing communications at Lunn Poly.

    More recently he has been a freelance researcher for agencies including NOP Automotive, Oxford Consultancy and Simpson Carpenter. He has also worked with Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen as well as Bentley, MAN Trucks, Land Rover, Nissan, Renault and component manufacturer Visteon.

    Peace spent 20 years as a finance director in the engineering industry and has since developed a commercial focus, giving him a perspective across a range of business issues. For the past 11 years he has worked in finance training and consultancy.

  • FLEET management company Ryder has announced three new appointments to its senior management. The appointments follow a £5 million investment in new technology and infrastructure.

    Nigel Martin is director, commercial vehicle rental sales, in charge of all location-based rental operations. Martin has been with Ryder for 18 years and was previously regional director of the central region.

    Terry Dillon becomes director, UK fleet solutions, moving from his role as finance director for the logistics business. He will be responsible for all contract hire customers. Steve Mulley, formerly head of maintenance, takes on the role of director, engineering and maintenance.

  • RENTAL firm Reflex Vehicle Solutions has recruited a new national business development manager due to a growth in demand. Jayne Somerfield will be responsible for attracting new business working with new clients on long-term rental options. Before being headhunted by Reflex, Somerfield had been the regional sales and business development manager for Arriva for six years.