City Auction Group strengthens senior management team

City Auction Group has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Zaiga Jinkinson as its new client relationship director.

Jinkinson has worked at Manheim for 30 years, with a track record for growing volume and profitability through enhanced customer service, innovation and business processes.

She was formerly auction centre manager and launched Manheim’s new Bruntingthorpe site in 2010, managing the site for seven years.

She also spent three years at Aston Barclay, where she opened a new flagship Auction Centre in the heart of Donnington Racetrack.

In her new role, she will be responsible for cementing relationships with both motor industry professional buyers and corporate vendors.

She said: “This new opportunity aligns perfectly with my career aspirations and allows me to be part of a team that is thriving and expanding very quickly, across the UK and Northern Ireland.”

Michael Tomalin, CEO of City Auction Group, added: “Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge in vehicle remarketing, Zaiga is a perfect fit with our business strategy of growth and world-class service levels. I am looking forward to working closely with Zaiga to enhance our customer service processes and delivery.”

CBVC appoints new sales director

CBVC Vehicle Management has appointed Nick Alexander as sales director for the expanding business.

Alexander has more than 15 years of experience in automotive and joins CBVC from Mer where he was associate consultant.

He has also held roles at Volkswagen Financial Services, Tusker and Nexus Vehicle Rental.

He said: “I’m delighted to be joining CBVC which has such an excellent reputation in the market.

“It’s clear that the business has a really loyal customer base thanks to the high levels of customer service CBVC provides. But there is also so much more potential for the business - I see salary sacrifice, fleet management and flexible vehicle rental as key areas of growth as we head into 2024.”

He will lead a sales team of seven with a focus on raising awareness of the breadth of the company’s fleet offering, from daily rental through to full fleet management, combined with leading fleet automation technology.

Mike Manners, managing director of CBVC Vehicle Management, said: “Nick’s combination of customer focus and people management experience made him a perfect fit for this critical role in our business.

“We’re particularly looking forward to tapping into his extensive daily rental experience to maximise our offering and further support our customers.”

Claire Mann appointed TfL's chief operating officer

Transport for London (TfL) has today announced that Claire Mann, who is currently managing director of South Western Railway (SWR), has been appointed TfL’s chief operating officer.

She will be responsible for ensuring TfL's directly operated and contracted services and operations are planned and managed effectively to provide a safe, efficient, reliable and high-quality service to customers.

She will lead the planning and delivery of services on the tube, Elizabeth line, London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) as well the bus and tram networks, cable car and Santander Cycle Hire.

She will also have responsibility for the management of TfL roads and road infrastructure, policing and security of the transport network and TfL's regulation of the taxi and private hire industry.

She returns to TfL after three years at South Western Rail (SWR).

Glynn Barton, who has led TfL’s operations on an interim basis since October 2022, will continue as chief operating officer until Mann joins TfL.

He will then take on the role of director of buses, leading the development, planning and delivery of bus services across the capital.

Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “At a time when customer numbers continue to rise and we work to support London's post-pandemic recovery and attract new customers, Claire's customer focus and wide-ranging public transport industry background will play a vital role in our work. We are delighted to have her return to TfL in this key leadership position.”

Mann added: “I’m delighted to be returning to TfL to lead its operations, which are key to the success of the London economy, at this important time.”

Autorola UK appoints new head of sales

Chris Timms has joined the Autorola UK team as head of sales for its MarketPlace online remarketing platform.

Timms joins from Suzuki where he was a regional sales manager and before that he spent 12 years at the Volkswagen Group including various roles in remarketing.

He is responsible for growing MarketPlace to the next level with both buyers and vendors as part of Autorola UK’s ambition of doubling its business over the next three years.

“I am pleased to join Autorola at such an exciting time in its evolution,” he said. “The MarketPlace platform is a tried and trusted partner for buyers and vendors, and I look forward to working with the team to grow it over the coming years.”

Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s group sales director said: “MarketPlace has huge potential, and we look forward to Chris continuing to grow our wholesale vendor and buyer base to help them sell and buy more used vehicles.”

New director of OEM appointed by Cap HPI

Mark Turnbull has been promoted to director of OEM and consulting at Cap HPI.

The role’s broader remit will see him continue to expand the consulting team’s global reach and work with OEMs to help them accelerate their product and growth plans.

He will lead the consulting and OEM teams to bring together data and technology to help customers benefit from the latest advances in forecasting and insight.

He said: “As a team, we are ideally placed to help OEMs manage the launch of new EVs into the market and tackle some of the challenges that the transition to net zero brings.

“We are working across the product lifecycle, from advice on the design and development of new models, to run-out and replacement, alongside residual value optimisation and remarketing strategies.

“As we continue to innovate, our data and insight products can help OEMs navigate the rapidly evolving market and manage risk.”

Turnbull has held senior roles at Cap HPI for more than 10 years and is a regular spokesperson at global automotive conferences.

Chris Wright, managing director of Cap HPI, said: “Mark brings a wealth of experience to his new role, where a broader remit will enable him to bring together the full range of data, technology and insight available across the business.

“It’s essential that the industry has the support it needs to operate efficiently and thrive in these changing times.”

Jana Jones appointed to new role at iVendi

Jana Jones has been named senior vice president (SVP) of sales, marketing and communications at iVendi.

She will lead the company’s sales, marketing and customer excellence teams, developing and implementing commercial strategies based on its corporate goals and objectives, as well as becoming part of its executive leadership team.

She first joined iVendi in late 2020, having held a number of marketing roles in both the tourism and technology sectors during the previous decade.

She said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being involved at iVendi over the last three years and am looking forward to helping the company progress further in my new SVP role.”

Darren Sinclair, chief commercial officer at iVendi, added: “Jana has made valuable contributions since joining our company and significantly advanced our marketing and commercial strategies. Her insights, including marketing expertise, commercial acumen and strategic vision, have been instrumental in our success.

“As part of this promotion, Jana will take on a commercial leadership role which demonstrates our confidence in her capabilities. Her appointment signifies a collective step towards realising our organisational goals and reinforces our commitment to sustained growth and excellence.”

AutoProtect Group Appoints Graeme Nieman as CEO

AutoProtect Group has announced the permanent appointment of Graeme Nieman as CEO.

Nieman first joined AutoProtect Group as an interim CEO in May 2022.

Before joining AutoProtect, he served as the head of motor product partnerships at Correlation Risk Partners, the company’s sole shareholder.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter with Graeme at the helm,” said Alex Lugt, managing director at Correlation Risk Partners,

“His vision and leadership are exactly what AutoProtect Group needs as we continue to grow in what we know to be a dynamic market.”