Under the changes the brand has created new roles of national contract hire manager and public sector assistant manager. Gareth Thomas has been appointed to the former role, with his background including seven years’ experience at Nissan Motor GB as contract hire and leasing manager before moving to Peugeot, where for the past three years he has held the position of national fleet sales manager. In his new role, Thomas will support Hyundai in expanding the brand's presence further in this strategic area of fleet sector.
In addition, the newly created role of public sector assistant manager has been filled by Denis Watling, who previously worked alongside Hyundai's fleet sales team during his undergraduate placement in 2011/12.
Watling will work alongside public sector fleet manager Gavin Thompson in developing the brand's direct fleet sales to fire and rescue, police forces and ambulance services throughout the UK. He will report into national fleet operations and remarketing manager, Jeff Peyton-Bruhl.
Meanwhile, Craig Larson has been appointed to the position of fleet operations manager for Scotland and Northern England and will support John Mahoney, regional fleet operations manager.
Larson has almost a decade of experience in the automotive industry, including six years in the role of area fleet sales manager with Audi UK. He also brings with him local knowledge, having worked both with direct and preferred channel partners in Scotland and Ireland.
Martin Wilson, fleet director of Hyundai UK, said: ‘Hyundai UK has undergone tremendous growth in the past five years and it is important to continue on the upward trend now and in the future. Hyundai's Fleet sales team now has personnel in all key positions to help the brand achieve further growth in “true fleet”, while ensuring our high standards of fleet customer service are continually improved upon at every stage. Craig, Gareth and Denis will help us to reach new customers and better serve existing customers in each of their respective areas of operation and we are delighted to welcome them to the team.’
