Mazda Motors UK has appointed Peter Allibon as its fleet and remarketing director, succeeding James Hopkins, who moves to take charge of the Japanese marque’s newly established European fleet department.

Mr Allibon will take over the role on December 22.

Over the last two and a half years he has been leading the UK Mazda Credit operation and was part of the Mazda Motors UK senior management team.

He has also led call centre and field sales teams.

Mr Allibon will report to UK sales director Mark Cameron, who said: “The strong links that Peter has formed with our dealer partners during his time with Mazda Credit will serve him well as we seek to expand further our fleet sales and remarketing capability.”

Mr Allibon said: “Mazda has made huge strides in the corporate sector in recent years.

"Many of our dealers have secured significant new business as a result of our strategy and I want even more of our dealer partners to share in our corporate sales success by actively pursuing businesses close to their operations."

Mr Hopkins has been leading Mazda Motors Europe’s project team that has been responsible for establishing the new European fleet operation while continuing to retain his UK brief.

Mr Allibon’s appointment means that Mr Hopkins will now be fully focused on growing Mazda’s European fleet sales following his appointment to the new post of director, European fleet operations.

This year Mazda Motors Europe will sell approximately 10 per cent of its total volume to fleets and almost half of all Mazda’s European fleet sales are in the UK.

The corporate sales department has been established at Mazda Motors Europe’s Leverkusen headquarters. Apart from continuing to focus in the UK, the team will initially target businesses in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

A second phase of countries earmarked for fleet development will include Austria, Russia and a number of fast-growing East European countries.