Mazda has restructured its corporate sales team as it aims to capitalise on record fleet business last year.

The new three-strong leasing sector department is charged with strengthening relations with price guides and the major contract hire companies.

Heading the department is national contract hire and rental manager Steve Tomlinson, who will be supported by national key account rental and broker manager Jason Jenkins, and Andreas Welham, who becomes national contract hire development manager. All have worked for Mazda for several years.

Mazda sold a record 19,391 cars into fleet last year, accounting for around 35% of its total registrations.

James Hopkins, Mazda’s fleet and remarketing director, said: “One person previously dealt with the entire leasing and rental sector. That was far too big a job for one person so I’ve created a new structure that reallocates responsibilities and will help us work much more closely with the contract hire sector.”

Mazda has also appointed its first fleet dealer development manager as it aims to grow sales through its dealer network to smaller fleets operating up to 100 vehicles.

Neil Mayling will work with Mazda’s seven fleet specialist dealers and more than 100 other retailers in the network who want to forge relationships with local businesses.