Alphabet has appointed Nick Brownrigg as its UK chief executive.

He joins the company - number three in the FN50 - on July 1 from the Dubai-based ALJ Group.

Previous to joining Alphabet, Brownrigg was chief executive for pre-owned vehicles at ALJ Group, a business development role implementing an investment strategy into the used vehicle sector for the Middle East’s largest automotive group.

Brownrigg has significant leadership experience in the UK and international leasing industry, having previously fulfilled a number of UK, pan-European and global CEO positions for Ally Financial Inc. (previously GMAC) and Masterlease Group before to his move to Dubai in early 2013.

Brownrigg also spent five years as sales and marketing director for Interleasing UK and served on the BVRLA committee of management between 2005 and 2010.

Norbert van den Eijnden, chief executive of Alphabet International, said: “With the recent, transformational move of our UK headquarters to Farnborough, this is a brand new era for the Alphabet business in the United Kingdom. From the conversations I’ve had with Nick I know that he is relishing the new challenge, excited by the potential at Alphabet and absolutely cannot wait to get started.”

Richard Schooling, who served as chief executive for Alphabet (GB) since 2011, leaves to become chief commercial officer for Alphabet International, based in Munich and with responsibility for commercial activities in Alphabet’s 18 markets around the world.

The UK is the largest and most established Alphabet market, founded in 1997 and providing customers with funding, fleet management and mobility services for over 144,000 cars and light commercial vehicles.